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Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
90
Imaging
55
Features
70
Overall
61
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Panasonic GX850
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Introduced January 2017
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GX850 (16MP) and the K-5 II (16MP) is very close but the GX850 (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GX850 was manufactured 3 years later than the K-5 II and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GX850 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the GX850 scores versus the K-5 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX850 over the Pentax K-5 II

 GX850 K-5 II 
LaunchedJanuary 2017June 2013More recent by 44 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k921kClearer display (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Panasonic GX850

 K-5 II GX850 

Common features in the Panasonic GX850 and Pentax K-5 II

 GX850 K-5 II 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GX850 has got exterior dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 II has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the GX850 versus the K-5 II.

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the GX850 and K-5 II is 90 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor measurements only by researching technical specs. The graphic below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX850 and K-5 II.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have the same MP but not the same sensor measurements. The GX850 has got the smaller sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field tougher. The newer GX850 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GX850
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5 II
66
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GX850
Street photography with Pentax K-5 II
80
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GX850
Sports photography with Pentax K-5 II
52
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500 seconds)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (210 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Travel photography info
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography info
79
boasts focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
bad battery life (210 CIPA)
65
weather sealing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography info
71
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
does not have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (210 per charge)
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GX850
Vlogging with Pentax K-5 II
73
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not have image stabilization
does not have microphone port
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone socket
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX850 and Pentax K-5 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 Pentax K-5 II
Also called as Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9 -
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2017-01-04 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 measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 49 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/500s 1/8000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 20 Mbps, MP4, H.264 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 760 grams (1.68 pounds)
Physical dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 82
DXO Color Depth score 23.2 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 13.3 14.1
DXO Low light score 586 1235
Other
Battery life 210 photos 980 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2, 10 sec, 3 images/10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $548 $830