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Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
75
Imaging
44
Features
20
Overall
34
Epson R-D1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52

Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1 Key Specs

Epson R-D1
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Leica M Mount
  • 620g - 142 x 89 x 40mm
  • Released March 2004
  • New Model is Epson R-D1x
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Successor is Panasonic GH2
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Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Epson and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the R-D1 (6MP) and GH1 (12MP) and the R-D1 (APS-C) and GH1 (Four Thirds) have different sensor sizes.

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The R-D1 was brought out 6 years prior to the GH1 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Epson R-D1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the R-D1 grades against the GH1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Epson R-D1 over the Panasonic GH1

 R-D1 GH1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Epson R-D1

 GH1 R-D1 
RevealedJuly 2009March 2004Fresher by 64 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2"Larger display (+1")
Display resolution460k235kClearer display (+225k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Epson R-D1 and Panasonic GH1

 R-D1 GH1 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Epson R-D1 offers external measurements of 142mm x 89mm x 40mm (5.6" x 3.5" x 1.6") and a weight of 620 grams (1.37 lbs) while the Panasonic GH1 has specifications of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Analyze the Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the R-D1 against the GH1.

Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the R-D1 and GH1 is 75 and 81 respectively.

Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The photograph below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the R-D1 and GH1.

As you can tell, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The R-D1 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic GH1 will show greater detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older R-D1 will be behind in sensor technology.

Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Epson R-D1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Portrait photography camera
50
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (6MP)
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Epson R-D1
Street photography with Panasonic GH1
55
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (620 grams)
72
fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Epson R-D1 Sports photography information
Panasonic GH1 Sports photography information
30
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no liveview feature
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6MP)
has no phase detect AF
32
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery pack (320 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Epson R-D1 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GH1 Travel photography advice
38
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (620 grams)
sensor resolution low (6MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
58
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (320 shots)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Epson R-D1
Landscape photography with Panasonic GH1
47
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Leica M mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2 inches)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6MP)
missing Timelapse recording
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (320 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Epson R-D1 Vlogging features
Panasonic GH1 Vlogging features
9
no video recording
72
screen is selfie friendly
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic support
does not have image stabilization
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Epson R-D1 vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Epson R-D1 and Panasonic GH1
 Epson R-D1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Brand Epson Panasonic
Model Epson R-D1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2004-03-11 2009-07-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.6mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor surface area 369.7mm² 273.5mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3008 x 2000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens mount Leica M Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 59 107
Crop factor 1.5 1.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 235 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (rangefinder) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Min shutter speed 1 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.50 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 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)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 620g (1.37 pounds) 385g (0.85 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 89 x 40mm (5.6" x 3.5" x 1.6") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life - 320 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer No Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD card SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at release $1,709 $949