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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
62
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax VS20 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
  • Revealed September 2014
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GM1
Pentax VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F3.1-4.8) lens
  • 235g - 111 x 61 x 38mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Panasonic GM5 versus Pentax VS20, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GM5 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is fairly similar but the GM5 (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The GM5 was launched 2 years later than the VS20 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the GM5 matches up vs the VS20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Pentax VS20

 GM5 VS20 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014January 2012Fresher by 33 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic GM5

 VS20 GM5 

Common features in the Panasonic GM5 and Pentax VS20

 GM5 VS20 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GM5 features physical 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) and the Pentax VS20 has proportions of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Panasonic GM5 versus Pentax VS20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the GM5 against the VS20.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GM5 and VS20 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing just by reviewing technical specs. The visual here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the GM5 and VS20.

As you can tell, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but different sensor sizing. The GM5 provides the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF easier. The fresher GM5 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GM5
Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
71
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
36
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Street photography details
Pentax VS20 Street photography details
76
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus by touch
lighter than competition (211g)
great ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Sports photography details
Pentax VS20 Sports photography details
48
silent mode (1/16,000s)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/500s)
slow frames per second (5.8 fps)
no image stabilization
terrible battery (220 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
44
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Travel photography advice
Pentax VS20 Travel photography advice
71
lighter than competition (211g)
offers focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
terrible battery (220 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition in class (235g)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Landscape photography information
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography information
69
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
47
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GM5 Vlogging advice
Pentax VS20 Vlogging advice
34
touchscreen enabled
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (211 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone support
30
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (235g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GM5 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Pentax Optio VS20
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-09-15 2012-01-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3448 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/2500 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 5.8fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 211g (0.47 lbs) 235g (0.52 lbs)
Dimensions 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 721 not tested
Other
Battery life 220 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID DMW-BLH7 D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $966 $106