Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax KP

Cameras
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Panasonic GM5 vs Pentax KP

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4/3 224.9mm²
16.0 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GM5 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic GM5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the GM5.
Compare Panasonic GM5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic GM5 conclusion.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 819,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax KP Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax KP in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the KP.

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Differences

Panasonic GM5 advantages over Pentax KP

Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Fast startup
~1.00 vs 1.4 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Thinner
36 mm vs 75 mm
Thinner
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bigger JPEG buffer
56 vs 35 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Pentax KP advantages over Panasonic GM5

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
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
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

390 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Higher max flash sync
1/180 vs 1/50 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Less shutter lag
0.09 vs 0.22 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.63x vs 0.46x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.3 vs 16.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Faster JPEG shooting
7.1 fps vs 5.7 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
7.0 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
10 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/24000 vs 1/16000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
819200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
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
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 GM5 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read KP User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

Great image quality for a tiny camera; Excellent high ISO for its class; Built-in EVF; Built-in hot-shoe; Improved ergonomics; Improved image quality for long exposures; Improved burst rate with hybrid shutter; 1080/60p video.
Slightly bigger than GM1 (but not by much); No built-in flash; Shallow buffers with RAW files; Dynamic range not quite as good as some competing models; Below average battery life.
Read our Panasonic GM5 Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Pentax KP, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Pentax KP Shooter's Report

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic GM1

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GM1

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
In-camera panoramas

$479
4/3

Less expensive
Internal flash

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GM1

Pentax KP

Panasonic GM1

$999
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$479
4/3

Touchscreen
Fast startup

Compare Pentax KP vs Panasonic GM1

Compared to Panasonic GF7

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GF7

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Hot shoe

$590
4/3

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GF7

Pentax KP

Panasonic GF7

$999
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$590
4/3

Touchscreen
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax KP vs Panasonic GF7

Compared to Nikon D5600

Panasonic GM5

Nikon D5600

$898
4/3

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$898
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Nikon D5600

Pentax KP

Nikon D5600

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$898
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax KP vs Nikon D5600

Compared to Panasonic GX850

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GX850

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Fast startup

$548
4/3

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GX850

Pentax KP

Panasonic GX850

$999
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$548
4/3

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax KP vs Panasonic GX850

Compared to Canon T7i

Panasonic GM5

Canon T7i

$898
4/3

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$700
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Canon T7i

Pentax KP

Canon T7i

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$700
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax KP vs Canon T7i

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