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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
74
Imaging
59
Features
84
Overall
69
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic GX8
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 487g - 133 x 78 x 63mm
  • Announced July 2015
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GX7
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Successor is Pentax K-1 II
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the GX8 (20MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the GX8 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) boast different sensor size.

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The GX8 was introduced 7 months prior to the K-1 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GX8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summary of how the GX8 matches up vs the K-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX8 over the Pentax K-1

 GX8 K-1 
Display resolution1040k1037kCrisper display (+3k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic GX8

 K-1 GX8 
RevealedFebruary 2016July 2015Fresher by 7 months
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-1

 GX8 K-1 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX8 enjoys outer measurements of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") having a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the GX8 and the K-1.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GX8 and K-1 is 74 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing only by checking specs. The photograph underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GX8 and K-1.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GX8 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-1 will give greater detail using its extra 16MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images more aggressively. The older GX8 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography highlights
75
focusing manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
85
you can focus manually
megapixel count excellent (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Street photography camera
80
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports focus via touch
environment proof
great high ISO (25,600)
70
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
above average ISO range (204,800)
more heavy than competition (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-1 Sports photography highlights
68
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
low battery pack (330 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count excellent (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (760 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Travel photography features
Pentax K-1 Travel photography features
73
environment proof
supports focus via touch
MP count decent (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
low battery pack (330 per charge)
53
environment proofing
megapixel count excellent (36 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (760 per charge)
more heavy than competition (1,010g)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GX8
Landscape photography with Pentax K-1
76
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
low battery pack (330 shots)
81
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count excellent (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
two card slots
not so great battery pack (760 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Vlogging information
Pentax K-1 Vlogging information
81
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external microphone support
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone socket
display isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than competition (1,010g)
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8Pentax K-1
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Pentax K-1
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2015-07-16 2016-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 25600 204800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 49 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.77x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 487g (1.07 lb) 1010g (2.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 133 x 78 x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 75 96
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.6 14.6
DXO Low light score 806 3280
Other
Battery life 330 shots 760 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots 1 Dual
Cost at release $898 $1,499