Clicky

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
54
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-500 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
  • Released February 2012
  • Renewed by Panasonic GX7
Pentax K-500
(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
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released November 2013
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here is a extensive analysis of the Panasonic GX1 versus Pentax K-500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GX1 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is fairly close but the GX1 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The GX1 was launched 21 months prior to the K-500 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the GX1 scores vs the K-500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Pentax K-500

 GX1 K-500 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic GX1

 K-500 GX1 
ReleasedNovember 2013February 2012Fresher by 21 months
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GX1 and Pentax K-500

 GX1 K-500 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic GX1 enjoys external dimensions of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

See the Panasonic GX1 versus Pentax K-500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the GX1 against the K-500.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GX1 and K-500 is 87 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by researching specifications. The graphic here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GX1 and K-500.

Plainly, both cameras feature the identical megapixel count but different sensor sizing. The GX1 comes with the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field more challenging. The older GX1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography information
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
74
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes touch focus
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
very good high ISO (51,600)
screen is fixed
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Sports photography info
Pentax K-500 Sports photography info
47
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
not so great battery (300 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
great battery life (710 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Travel photography details
Pentax K-500 Travel photography details
65
includes touch focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery (300 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
67
great battery life (710 per charge)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography factors
62
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (710 CIPA)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
32
built-in touchscreen
offers face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of external microphone socket
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX1 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Pentax K-500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-02-14 2013-11-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
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 12800 51600
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech 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
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 318g (0.70 lb) 646g (1.42 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 Overall rating 55 79
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 13.1
DXO Low light rating 703 1087
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 710 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $228 $600