Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic GH1

Lets take a deeper look at the Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic GH1, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Canon and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the 170 IS (20MP) and GH1 (12MP) and the 170 IS (1/2.3") and GH1 (Four Thirds) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The 170 IS was announced 5 years later than the GH1 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Canon 170 IS being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the 170 IS grades against the GH1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. The whole galleries are available at Canon 170 IS Gallery and Panasonic GH1 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon 170 IS enjoys external dimensions of 100mm x 58mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Panasonic GH1 has proportions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Check out the Canon 170 IS vs Panasonic GH1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the 170 IS compared to the GH1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 170 IS and GH1 is 95 and 81 respectively.

Sometimes, its difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing purely by going through specs. The graphic here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the 170 IS and GH1.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 170 IS with its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Canon 170 IS will produce greater detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The fresher 170 IS will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.