Canon G11 vs Panasonic ZR1

Let's look a little more closely at the Canon G11 and Panasonic ZR1, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the G11 (10MP) and the ZR1 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the G11 (1/1.7") and ZR1 (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The G11 was revealed 5 months after the ZR1 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the G11 grades against the ZR1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot G11 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1. The full galleries are viewable at Canon G11 Gallery and Panasonic ZR1 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon G11 has got outside measurements of 112mm x 76mm x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") having a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR1 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Canon G11 and Panasonic ZR1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the G11 and the ZR1.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the G11 and ZR1 is 83 and 94 respectively.

Generally, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the G11 and ZR1.

As you can see, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The G11 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic ZR1 will give greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics way more aggressively.