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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
74
Imaging
59
Features
84
Overall
69
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Panasonic GX8
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum 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-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic GX8 versus Pentax K-5 II, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the GX8 (20MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the GX8 (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GX8 was announced 2 years later than the K-5 II and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the GX8 scores versus the K-5 II when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX8 over the Pentax K-5 II

 GX8 K-5 II 
LaunchedJuly 2015June 2013More recent by 26 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Panasonic GX8

 K-5 II GX8 

Common features in the Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-5 II

 GX8 K-5 II 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GX8 has exterior 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-5 II has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GX8 versus Pentax K-5 II in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the GX8 compared to the K-5 II.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GX8 and K-5 II is 74 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements simply by viewing specifications. The photograph below will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the GX8 and K-5 II.

Plainly, both cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GX8 using its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic GX8 will render extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The younger GX8 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GX8
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5 II
75
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Street photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Street photography advice
80
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports focus by touch
environment sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography advice
68
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
bad battery power (330 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography factors
73
environment sealing
supports focus by touch
good MP (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
bad battery power (330 shots)
65
environment proof
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography factors
76
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
bad battery power (330 CIPA)
79
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging factors
81
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with mic support
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-5 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Pentax K-5 II
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2015-07-16 2013-06-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 100 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 49 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.77x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 487g (1.07 pounds) 760g (1.68 pounds)
Physical dimensions 133 x 78 x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 75 82
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.6 14.1
DXO Low light score 806 1235
Other
Battery life 330 images 980 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $898 $830