Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax RS1500

On this page, we are comparing the Panasonic GM5 and Pentax RS1500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GM5 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is very close but the GM5 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The GM5 was unveiled 3 years later than the RS1500 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the GM5 scores against the RS1500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 and Pentax Optio RS1500. The full galleries are available at Panasonic GM5 Gallery and Pentax RS1500 Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GM5 enjoys external dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Pentax RS1500 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GM5 and Pentax RS1500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the GM5 against the RS1500.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GM5 and RS1500 is 91 and 93 respectively.

Sometimes, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements simply by looking through specifications. The visual here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GM5 and RS1500.

To sum up, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GM5 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic GM5 will provide you with more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The younger GM5 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.