Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-50

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Panasonic G5 vs Pentax K-50

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4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 160 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Panasonic G5 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the G5.

APS-C 372.1mm²
16.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-50 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-50.

Succeeded by the Panasonic G6
Compare G5 vs G6

Succeeded by the Pentax K-70
Compare K-50 vs K-70

Compare PANASONIC G6 vs PENTAX K-70

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Differences

Panasonic G5 advantages over Pentax K-50

Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Lighter weight
575g vs 904g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.61x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots

Pentax K-50 advantages over Panasonic G5

Less expensive
$149 vs $500
Save money for lenses or accessories
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Bigger pixels
~ 4.81 vs 3.75 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

480 vs 310 shots
Capture more photos
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Bigger JPEG buffer
30 vs 18 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/6000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read G5 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-50 User Reviews

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Body Only
Kit with 14-42mm Lens

All G5 Deals

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Buy the Pentax K-50

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-55mm and 50-200mm lenses
Kit with 18-55mm lens

All K-50 Deals

Review Excerpt

Small, compact body with excellent focusing and exposure capabilities; Newly enhanced touchpanel LCD screen makes image capture and review a joy; Excellent HD video recording quality.
Some controls difficult to access; Too easy to activate menus and options while shooting; Lack of a microphone-in jack limits video recording usefulness.
Read our Panasonic G5 Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Pentax K-50, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Pentax K-50 First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic G2

Panasonic G5

Panasonic G2

$500
4/3

Touchscreen
More dots on screen

$800
4/3

Bigger pixels
Fast startup

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic G2

Pentax K-50

Panasonic G2

$149
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$800
4/3

Tiltable Screen
HDMI out

Compare Pentax K-50 vs Panasonic G2

Compared to Sony A57

Panasonic G5

Sony A57

$500
4/3

Lens selection
Touchscreen

$800
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Sony A57

Pentax K-50

Sony A57

$149
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$800
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-50 vs Sony A57

Compared to Sony A37

Panasonic G5

Sony A37

$500
4/3

Lens selection
Touchscreen

$600
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Sony A37

Pentax K-50

Sony A37

$149
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$600
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-50 vs Sony A37

Compared to Panasonic G6

Panasonic G5

Panasonic G6

$500
4/3

$399
4/3

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic G6

Pentax K-50

Panasonic G6

$149
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$399
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-50 vs Panasonic G6

Compared to Panasonic G7

Panasonic G5

Panasonic G7

$500
4/3

$498
4/3

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic G7

Pentax K-50

Panasonic G7

$149
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$498
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-50 vs Panasonic G7

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