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Canon G12 vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
83
Imaging
35
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot G12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
50
Features
57
Overall
52

Canon G12 vs Panasonic GH1 Key Specs

Canon G12
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 401g - 112 x 76 x 48mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Superseded the Canon G11
  • Newer Model is Canon G15
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Successor is Panasonic GH2
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Canon G12 vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Canon G12 and Panasonic GH1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the G12 (10MP) and the GH1 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the G12 (1/1.7") and GH1 (Four Thirds) offer different sensor sizes.

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The G12 was launched 19 months after the GH1 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Canon G12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a concise summation of how the G12 grades vs the GH1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon G12 over the Panasonic GH1

 G12 GH1 
IntroducedJanuary 2011July 2009Newer by 19 months
Screen resolution461k460kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Canon G12

 GH1 G12 
Screen dimensions3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon G12 and Panasonic GH1

 G12 GH1 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon G12 vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Canon G12 features physical dimensions of 112mm x 76mm x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") along with a weight of 401 grams (0.88 lbs) while the Panasonic GH1 has specifications of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") and a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Analyze the Canon G12 and Panasonic GH1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the G12 against the GH1.

Canon G12 vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the G12 and GH1 is 83 and 81 respectively.

Canon G12 vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Canon G12 vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions just by seeing technical specs. The pic underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the G12 and GH1.

As you can tell, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The G12 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Panasonic GH1 will provide more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The fresher G12 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon G12 vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Canon G12 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G12 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon G12
Portrait photography with Panasonic GH1
47
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon G12 Street photography factors
Panasonic GH1 Street photography factors
64
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors in class (401g)
72
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon G12 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Sports photography camera
34
image stabilization (Optical)
good battery pack (370 per charge)
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
33
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (320 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon G12
Travel photography with Panasonic GH1
60
good battery pack (370 per charge)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (401 grams)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
58
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (320 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G12 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Landscape photography camera
49
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is good (2.8 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (370 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse mode
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (320 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon G12
Vlogging with Panasonic GH1
60
reasonably wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (401g)
72
screen is selfie friendly
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone jack
no image stabilization
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Canon G12 vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G12 and Panasonic GH1
 Canon PowerShot G12Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2011-01-19 2009-07-10
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 273.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-4.5 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.8" 3"
Resolution of display 461 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 10.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/2000s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 401 grams (0.88 lbs) 385 grams (0.85 lbs)
Physical dimensions 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 47 64
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 21.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 11.6
DXO Low light rating 161 772
Other
Battery life 370 pictures 320 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-7L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $600 $949