Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-1

On this page, we are reviewing the Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the GM5 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the GM5 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) have totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The GM5 was revealed 17 months before the K-1 making them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the GM5 grades versus the K-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 & Pentax K-1. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic GM5 Gallery & Pentax K-1 Gallery.

In case you're planning to lug around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GM5 provides exterior dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has measurements of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Here is a front view size comparison of the GM5 against the K-1.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GM5 and K-1 is 91 and 55 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reviewing specifications. The visual below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GM5 and K-1.

Plainly, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GM5 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-1 will offer you extra detail because of its extra 20 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The older GM5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.