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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
74
Imaging
59
Features
84
Overall
69
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
77
Features
82
Overall
79

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 II 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
  • Revealed July 2015
  • Old Model is Panasonic GX7
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Superseded the Pentax K-1
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

Lets look closer at the Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-1 II, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the GX8 (20MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the GX8 (Four Thirds) and K-1 II (Full frame) use totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The GX8 was introduced 3 years before the K-1 II which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GX8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the GX8 matches up against the K-1 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX8 over the Pentax K-1 II

 GX8 K-1 II 
Display resolution1040k1037kSharper display (+3k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Panasonic GX8

 K-1 II GX8 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018July 2015More modern by 31 months
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-1 II

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

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GX8 comes with external measurements of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") and a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 II has proportions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") along with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-1 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the GX8 vs the K-1 II.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GX8 and K-1 II is 74 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by seeing a spec sheet. The image underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the GX8 and K-1 II.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GX8 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-1 II will show more detail using its extra 16MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged GX8 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-1 II Portrait photography features
75
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
86
you can focus manually
resolution is high (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Street photography factors
Pentax K-1 II Street photography factors
80
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with focus via touch
environment sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
70
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proof
great high ISO (819,200)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Sports photography camera
68
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
bad battery power (330 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
77
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is high (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (4.4 frames per second)
bad battery pack (670 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-1 II Travel photography advice
73
environment sealing
comes with focus via touch
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
bad battery power (330 per charge)
53
weather proof
resolution is high (36 megapixels)
bad battery pack (670 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-1 II Landscape photography details
76
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
bad battery power (330 CIPA)
82
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is high (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
no low pass filter
great high ISO (819,200)
supports RAW files
weather proof
2 card slots
bad battery pack (670 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-1 II Vlogging highlights
81
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external microphone support
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone support
display isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than competition in class (1,010 grams)
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-1 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2015-07-16 2018-02-22
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 25600 819200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 49 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF4
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.77x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options 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
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 487g (1.07 lb) 1010g (2.23 lb)
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 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 806 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 670 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots 1 2
Pricing at release $898 $1,737