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Canon SD1200 IS vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
50
Features
57
Overall
52

Canon SD1200 IS vs Panasonic GH1 Key Specs

Canon SD1200 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-105mm (F2.8-4.9) lens
  • 160g - 86 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed February 2009
  • Additionally Known as Digital IXUS 95 IS
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Successor is Panasonic GH2
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Canon SD1200 IS vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

Below is a detailed review of the Canon SD1200 IS and Panasonic GH1, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SD1200 IS (10MP) and the GH1 (12MP) is very comparable but the SD1200 IS (1/2.3") and GH1 (Four Thirds) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The SD1200 IS was launched 4 months earlier than the GH1 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Canon SD1200 IS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SD1200 IS grades against the GH1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD1200 IS over the Panasonic GH1

 SD1200 IS GH1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Canon SD1200 IS

 GH1 SD1200 IS 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon SD1200 IS and Panasonic GH1

 SD1200 IS GH1 
ReleasedFebruary 2009July 2009Same generation
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Canon SD1200 IS vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SD1200 IS comes with outside dimensions of 86mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.4" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH1 has sizing of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SD1200 IS and Panasonic GH1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SD1200 IS versus the GH1.

Canon SD1200 IS vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD1200 IS and GH1 is 95 and 81 respectively.

Canon SD1200 IS vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD1200 IS vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements purely by going through specifications. The visual below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SD1200 IS and GH1.

Plainly, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SD1200 IS featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Panasonic GH1 will show more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively.

Canon SD1200 IS vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Canon SD1200 IS vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD1200 IS vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Portrait photography info
Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography info
25
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Street photography info
Panasonic GH1 Street photography info
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
72
fully articulated screen
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Sports photography features
Panasonic GH1 Sports photography features
24
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
33
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery (320 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Travel photography information
Panasonic GH1 Travel photography information
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
58
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery (320 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Landscape photography factors
Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography factors
27
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inches)
no manual control
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Timelapse recording
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery (320 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Vlogging factors
Panasonic GH1 Vlogging factors
28
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
no microphone socket
72
screen is selfie friendly
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic socket
does not have image stabilization
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Canon SD1200 IS vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD1200 IS and Panasonic GH1
 Canon PowerShot SD1200 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Also referred to as Digital IXUS 95 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-02-18 2009-07-10
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 273.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Max boosted ISO - 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 35-105mm (3.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 1.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 10.50 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 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)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 160 gr (0.35 pounds) 385 gr (0.85 pounds)
Physical dimensions 86 x 55 x 22mm (3.4" x 2.2" x 0.9") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 260 pictures 320 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Retail price $250 $949