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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
54
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-r 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
  • Announced February 2012
  • Successor is Panasonic GX7
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Released March 2011
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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Panasonic GX1 versus Pentax K-r, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the GX1 (16MP) and K-r (12MP) and the GX1 (Four Thirds) and K-r (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The GX1 was revealed 12 months later than the K-r so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GX1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the GX1 matches up vs the K-r in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Pentax K-r

 GX1 K-r 
ReleasedFebruary 2012March 2011More recent by 12 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Panasonic GX1

 K-r GX1 
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GX1 and Pentax K-r

 GX1 K-r 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX1 comes with outer 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-r has dimensions of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GX1 versus Pentax K-r in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the GX1 vs the K-r.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GX1 and K-r is 87 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading technical specs. The visual below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the GX1 and K-r.

As you can tell, both cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GX1 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic GX1 will offer more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The fresher GX1 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GX1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-r
71
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
63
has manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Street photography advice
Pentax K-r Street photography advice
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch focus
fixed screen
no image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Sports photography camera
47
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (300 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
55
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
low battery life (470 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Travel photography details
Pentax K-r Travel photography details
65
boasts touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (300 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
47
has built in flash
low battery life (470 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-r Landscape photography details
62
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery life (470 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-r Vlogging highlights
32
built-in touchscreen
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external mic support
26
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
does not have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone jack
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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX1 and Pentax K-r
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1Pentax K-r
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Pentax K-r
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-02-14 2011-03-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3448 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
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
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.60 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 318 gr (0.70 pounds) 598 gr (1.32 pounds)
Dimensions 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 72
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.6 12.4
DXO Low light score 703 755
Other
Battery life 300 images 470 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $228 $1,100