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Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
83
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Launched April 2016
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-S1
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Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Panasonic GX85 and Pentax K-S2, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GX85 (16MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is very close but the GX85 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The GX85 was announced 14 months later than the K-S2 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GX85 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the GX85 grades versus the K-S2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX85 over the Pentax K-S2

 GX85 K-S2 
RevealedApril 2016February 2015More recent by 14 months
Display resolution1040k921kClearer display (+119k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic GX85

 K-S2 GX85 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic GX85 and Pentax K-S2

 GX85 K-S2 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurements

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GX85 features outer dimensions of 122mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Pentax K-S2 has measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") and a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

See the Panasonic GX85 and Pentax K-S2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the GX85 against the K-S2.

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the GX85 and K-S2 is 83 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements just by looking through specifications. The visual here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX85 and K-S2.

To sum up, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GX85 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will result in greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The younger GX85 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography factors
72
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
78
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX85 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Street photography camera
83
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
72
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
very good ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than average (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography advice
62
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
70
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (5.4 frames/s)
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Travel photography details
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography details
68
includes focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
65
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
more heavy than average (678 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography info
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
no low pass filter
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
77
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX85 Vlogging details
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging details
35
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
71
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone port
more heavy than average (678 grams)
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Panasonic GX85 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX85 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85Pentax K-S2
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 Pentax K-S2
Also Known as Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II -
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2016-04-05 2015-02-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4592 x 3448 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 25600 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 49 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,764k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 grams (0.94 lbs) 678 grams (1.49 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 71 x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 662 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 shots 410 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $800 $581