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Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2007
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Released February 2016
  • New Model is Pentax K-1 II
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Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Panasonic L1 and Pentax K-1, both Advanced DSLR cameras by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the L1 (7MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the L1 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) come with different sensor sizing.

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The L1 was released 9 years before the K-1 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going through a full comparison, below is a quick summation of how the L1 grades versus the K-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Pentax K-1

 L1 K-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Panasonic L1

 K-1 L1 
ReleasedFebruary 2016April 2007Newer by 107 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3.2"2.5"Larger display (+0.7")
Display resolution1037k207kCrisper display (+830k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic L1 and Pentax K-1

 L1 K-1 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic L1 provides outer measurements of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has measurements of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

See the Panasonic L1 and Pentax K-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the L1 and the K-1.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the L1 and K-1 is 65 and 55 respectively.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions purely by researching specs. The image here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the L1 and K-1.

All in all, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The L1 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-1 will provide you with more detail as a result of its extra 29MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged L1 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic L1 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography features
54
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (7 megapixels)
85
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is amazing (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic L1 Street photography features
Pentax K-1 Street photography features
58
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (606 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
70
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
good ISO range (204,800)
more heavy than others (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic L1 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-1 Sports photography factors
40
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (7MP)
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is amazing (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (4.4 fps)
terrible battery life (760 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Travel photography camera
50
lighter than competition in class (606g)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (7 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
53
environment proofing
sensor resolution is amazing (36MP)
terrible battery life (760 CIPA)
more heavy than others (1,010 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic L1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-1
47
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (7MP)
no Time Lapse mode
81
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is amazing (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (204,800)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery life (760 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic L1 Vlogging details
Pentax K-1 Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone jack
does not have selfie friendly screen
more heavy than others (1,010 grams)
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Panasonic L1 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic L1 and Pentax K-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1Pentax K-1
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Pentax K-1
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2007-04-11 2016-02-17
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 7 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3136 x 2352 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 1600 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 207k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2) Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 606 gr (1.34 pounds) 1010 gr (2.23 pounds)
Dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 96
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 3280
Other
Battery life - 760 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/MMC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots 1 Two
Launch cost $1,500 $1,499