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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
62
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Panasonic GM5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
  • Announced September 2014
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GM1
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-5
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Panasonic GM5 and Pentax K-5 IIs, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GM5 (16MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is pretty close but the GM5 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The GM5 was brought out 16 months after the K-5 IIs which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short introduction of how the GM5 scores versus the K-5 IIs for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 GM5 K-5 IIs 
RevealedSeptember 2014June 2013More modern by 16 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic GM5

 K-5 IIs GM5 

Common features in the Panasonic GM5 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 GM5 K-5 IIs 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution921k921kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic GM5 features exterior dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 IIs has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GM5 and Pentax K-5 IIs in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the GM5 and the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the GM5 and K-5 IIs is 91 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes simply by viewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GM5 and K-5 IIs.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got the exact same MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The GM5 includes the smaller sensor which will make getting shallow DOF harder. The more recent GM5 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography factors
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GM5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Street photography camera
76
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch focus
lighter than competition (211 grams)
above average high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography advice
48
silent mode (1/16,000s)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames per second)
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (220 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GM5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competition (211 grams)
comes with touch focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
weather proofing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography info
69
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging features
34
has touchscreen
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (211g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no mic socket
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone jack
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GM5 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2014-09-15 2013-06-04
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO 100 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/500s 1/8000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 5.8fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 211 grams (0.47 pounds) 760 grams (1.68 pounds)
Dimensions 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 82
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 14.1
DXO Low light rating 721 1208
Other
Battery life 220 photos 980 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLH7 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $966 $749