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Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
83
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Panasonic GX85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 122 x 71 x 44mm
  • Revealed April 2016
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
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Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GX85 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the GX85 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The GX85 was introduced 2 years after the K-500 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX85 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the GX85 grades versus the K-500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX85 over the Pentax K-500

 GX85 K-500 
LaunchedApril 2016November 2013Newer by 29 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Panasonic GX85

 K-500 GX85 

Common features in the Panasonic GX85 and Pentax K-500

 GX85 K-500 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic GX85 provides physical dimensions of 122mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

See the Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the GX85 and the K-500.

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GX85 and K-500 is 83 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by seeing technical specs. The pic here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX85 and K-500.

As you can tell, both of these cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The GX85 features the smaller sensor which will make getting shallow DOF trickier. The newer GX85 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GX85
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
74
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Street photography info
Pentax K-500 Street photography info
83
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
above average high ISO (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-500 Sports photography advice
62
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
not so great battery (290 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (710 per charge)
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GX85
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
68
has touch focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
67
better than average battery life (710 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography information
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Vlogging info
Pentax K-500 Vlogging info
35
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external mic socket
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Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX85 and Pentax K-500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85Pentax K-500
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 Pentax K-500
Also called as Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II -
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2016-04-05 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 51600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 49 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,764 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options 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
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 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 426g (0.94 pounds) 646g (1.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 71 x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 79
DXO Color Depth rating 22.9 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 13.1
DXO Low light rating 662 1087
Other
Battery life 290 shots 710 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $800 $600