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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
74
Imaging
59
Features
84
Overall
69
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-500 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
  • Launched July 2015
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GX7
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

The following is a in depth overview of the Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-500, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the GX8 (20MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the GX8 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GX8 was announced 20 months after the K-500 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the GX8 matches up against the K-500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX8 over the Pentax K-500

 GX8 K-500 
IntroducedJuly 2015November 2013Newer by 20 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k921kClearer screen (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic GX8

 K-500 GX8 

Common features in the Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-500

 GX8 K-500 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX8 comes with exterior dimensions of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the GX8 versus the K-500.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the GX8 and K-500 is 74 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading through a spec sheet. The pic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX8 and K-500.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The GX8 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Panasonic GX8 will resolve greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The fresher GX8 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography features
75
has manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
74
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Street photography info
Pentax K-500 Street photography info
80
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has touch to focus
environment proofing
above average ISO range (25,600)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
above average ISO range (51,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-500 Sports photography advice
68
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
terrible battery pack (330 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking focus
better than average battery power (710 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Travel photography details
Pentax K-500 Travel photography details
73
environment proofing
has touch to focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
terrible battery pack (330 per charge)
67
better than average battery power (710 CIPA)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
76
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
terrible battery pack (330 shots)
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-500 Vlogging highlights
81
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has mic socket
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have mic socket
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Panasonic GX8 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX8 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8Pentax K-500
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Pentax K-500
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2015-07-16 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine PRIME M
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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 51600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 49 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.77x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 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, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 487 grams (1.07 pounds) 646 grams (1.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 133 x 78 x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 75 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 13.1
DXO Low light rating 806 1087
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 710 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $898 $600