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Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
90
Imaging
55
Features
70
Overall
61
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Launched January 2017
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-5
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Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Panasonic GX850 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GX850 (16MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is pretty well matched but the GX850 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The GX850 was introduced 3 years after the K-5 IIs which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GX850 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the GX850 scores vs the K-5 IIs with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 GX850 K-5 IIs 
LaunchedJanuary 2017June 2013More modern by 44 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 K-5 IIs GX850 

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

 GX850 K-5 IIs 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic GX850 provides outer dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 IIs has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GX850 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the GX850 compared to the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the GX850 and K-5 IIs is 90 and 60 respectively.

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

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at specifications. The picture underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX850 and K-5 IIs.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The GX850 features the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower DOF trickier. The fresher GX850 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography factors
66
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography highlights
80
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Sports photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography information
52
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500s)
no image stabilization
terrible battery (210 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Travel photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography details
79
provides touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery (210 per charge)
65
weather sealing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX850 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
71
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
terrible battery (210 per charge)
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Vlogging information
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging information
73
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
no image stabilization
doesn't have microphone socket
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone jack
display is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX850 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 Pentax K-5 IIs
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9 -
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2017-01-04 2013-06-04
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO 100 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
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
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes 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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269g (0.59 lbs) 760g (1.68 lbs)
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 All around rating 73 82
DXO Color Depth rating 23.2 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 14.1
DXO Low light rating 586 1208
Other
Battery life 210 shots 980 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2, 10 sec, 3 images/10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $548 $749