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Canon M vs Panasonic GF2

Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
65
Overall
61
Canon EOS M front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48

Canon M vs Panasonic GF2 Key Specs

Canon M
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 298g - 109 x 66 x 32mm
  • Revealed July 2012
Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF1
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF3
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Canon M vs Panasonic GF2 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Canon M versus Panasonic GF2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Canon and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the M (18MP) and GF2 (12MP) and the M (APS-C) and GF2 (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor size.

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The M was manufactured 18 months after the GF2 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple summary of how the M matches up versus the GF2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon M over the Panasonic GF2

 M GF2 
RevealedJuly 2012February 2011Newer by 18 months
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Canon M

 GF2 M 

Common features in the Canon M and Panasonic GF2

 M GF2 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Canon M vs Panasonic GF2 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon M enjoys physical dimensions of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Panasonic GF2 has proportions of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

Examine the Canon M versus Panasonic GF2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the M vs the GF2.

Canon M vs Panasonic GF2 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the M and GF2 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Canon M vs Panasonic GF2 top view buttons comparison

Canon M vs Panasonic GF2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to see the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading a spec sheet. The image below will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the M and GF2.

Clearly, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The M due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Canon M will offer you more detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures more aggressively. The newer M will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon M vs Panasonic GF2 sensor size comparison

Canon M vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic GF2 Portrait photography highlights
75
has manual focus
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon M Street photography factors
Panasonic GF2 Street photography factors
72
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
offers touch focus
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
65
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon M Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GF2 Sports photography highlights
54
MP count decent (18MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (230 per charge)
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon M
Travel photography with Panasonic GF2
63
offers touch focus
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery (230 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
52
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon M Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography highlights
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (230 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon M
Vlogging with Panasonic GF2
37
touch screen
has face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
32
touch screen
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing microphone socket
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Canon M vs Panasonic GF2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M and Panasonic GF2
 Canon EOS MPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon EOS M Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-07-23 2011-02-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 31 23
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF-M Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 23 107
Crop factor 1.6 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Clear View II TFT LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 298 grams (0.66 lbs) 310 grams (0.68 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 66 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 65 54
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 10.3
DXO Low light rating 827 506
Other
Battery life 230 shots 300 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E12 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $510 $330