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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
54
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Panasonic GX1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 318g - 116 x 68 x 39mm
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GX7
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-30
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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Following is a in depth review of the Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GX1 (16MP) and the K-50 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the GX1 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

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The GX1 was manufactured 21 months before the K-50 making them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the GX1 grades versus the K-50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Pentax K-50

 GX1 K-50 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Panasonic GX1

 K-50 GX1 
AnnouncedNovember 2013February 2012More modern by 21 months
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GX1 and Pentax K-50

 GX1 K-50 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX1 offers physical dimensions of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the GX1 and the K-50.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GX1 and K-50 is 87 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to envision the difference in sensor sizes simply by seeing specifications. The pic underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX1 and K-50.

To sum up, both the cameras feature the identical megapixel count but not the same sensor sizes. The GX1 contains the smaller sensor which will make getting shallower DOF more challenging. The more aged GX1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
saves RAW formats
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Street photography camera
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers touch to focus
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
above average high ISO (51,600)
no moving screen
heavier than competition in class (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Sports photography highlights
47
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
not so great battery power (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Travel photography camera
65
offers touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
low battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
56
weather sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
not so great battery power (410 shots)
heavier than competition in class (650g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Landscape photography camera
62
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low battery (300 shots)
no Timelapse function
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
not so great battery power (410 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Vlogging details
Pentax K-50 Vlogging details
32
touchscreen
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no microphone socket
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (650g)
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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX1 and Pentax K-50
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Pentax K-50
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-02-14 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 51600
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 318g (0.70 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 79
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.6 13.0
DXO Low light score 703 1120
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 410 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $228 $610