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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
91
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
55
Features
69
Overall
60

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-7 Key Specs

Panasonic GM5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
  • Revealed September 2014
  • Old Model is Panasonic GM1
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Expand to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • Renewed by Pentax K-5
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Panasonic GM5 versus Pentax K-7, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GM5 (16MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is pretty similar but the GM5 (Four Thirds) and K-7 (APS-C) feature different sensor size.

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The GM5 was announced 5 years later than the K-7 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the GM5 scores vs the K-7 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Pentax K-7

 GM5 K-7 
LaunchedSeptember 2014October 2009Fresher by 61 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Panasonic GM5

 K-7 GM5 

Common features in the Panasonic GM5 and Pentax K-7

 GM5 K-7 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution921k921kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GM5 has got external measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-7 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GM5 versus Pentax K-7 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that moment. Below is the front view size comparison of the GM5 compared to the K-7.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GM5 and K-7 is 91 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizing just by reviewing specifications. The graphic below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the GM5 and K-7.

Plainly, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GM5 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Panasonic GM5 will offer extra detail with its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher GM5 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GM5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Portrait photography camera
72
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
73
has manual focus
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GM5
Street photography with Pentax K-7
76
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (211 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Sports photography features
Pentax K-7 Sports photography features
49
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/500 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (220 shots)
no phase detect AF
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GM5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Travel photography camera
71
lighter than competition in class (211g)
provides touch to focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
bad battery pack (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
environment sealing
decent megapixels (15MP)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GM5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-7
69
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GM5
Vlogging with Pentax K-7
35
touchscreen enabled
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (211 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone jack
25
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GM5 and Pentax K-7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5Pentax K-7
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Pentax K-7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2014-09-15 2009-10-02
Physical type 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 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4592 x 3448 4672 x 3104
Highest native ISO 25600 2000
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 5.8 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.00 m
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, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 211g (0.47 lbs) 750g (1.65 lbs)
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 All around score 66 61
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.7 10.6
DXO Low light score 721 536
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 980 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLH7 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/MMC
Card slots One One
Launch cost $966 $599