Panasonic GH5S vs Samsung NX1000: A Deep Dive into Two Mirrorless Worlds

When stepping into the mirrorless camera arena, the choice can be a bewildering one. Today, we're peeling back the layers on two widely different beasts - the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S, a professional-grade Micro Four Thirds powerhouse from 2018, and the Samsung NX1000, an entry-level APS-C mirrorless from 2012. Think of it as comparing a sleek performance car to a trusty hatchback: both earn their keep but cater to distinct drivers and journeys.

I've spent considerable time with both cameras, analyzing not just specs but real-world usability and photographic outcomes across genres. Let's unpack their merits, limitations, and which photographers they best suit.

First Impressions: Size, Feel, and Handling

You don’t often expect a compact, entry-level camera to be mistaken for a professional tool; conversely, a pro-level camera rarely sacrifices heft for portability.

Physically, the GH5S commands presence: at 139×98×87 mm and 660 grams (body only), it’s sizable and built with a robust magnesium alloy frame, delivering a reassuring grip and durable feel. This solid build complements its professional intentions and ensures confidence when shooting in challenging environments. In contrast, the NX1000 is a tiny 114×63×37 mm and weighs just 222 grams - nearly a third of the GH5S’s heft; its all-plastic body feels lightweight and less substantial but perfect for casual carry.

Ergonomically, the GH5S sports a well-contoured handgrip and strategically placed buttons to support extended shoots and manual settings. The NX1000’s minimalist approach keeps controls basic - ideal for beginners but less accommodating for rapid-fire adjustments.

Bottom line: If you prize durability and handling for long, demanding sessions, GH5S excels. For spontaneous, pocketable travel snaps, the NX1000 is comfortable and far less obtrusive.

Looks Matter: Design and Control Layout

Walking around with a camera is also about user interface ergonomics - how intuitively can you adapt to settings and capture moments?

The GH5S clearly shows its pedigree with an array of dials. Dedicated shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation wheels, and function buttons abound, making tactile adjustments second nature. For pro shooters who’m most comfortable shooting manual or semi-automatic modes, this immediate control access is critical.

Meanwhile, the NX1000 offers a cleaner top plate with fewer buttons and no dedicated dials beyond shutter and mode. Beginners or casual shooters may appreciate the simplicity, but pros quickly find it limiting.

The Heart of the Matter: Sensor and Image Quality

Image quality ultimately hinges on the sensor - its size, resolution, and supporting tech dictate potential detail, dynamic range, and noise performance.

Here we see a classic tradeoff:

• GH5S: Houses a 10.2 MP Four Thirds sensor (17.3 x 13 mm), designed with an emphasis on low-light sensitivity and video prowess rather than sheer megapixels. It eschews an optical low-pass filter for maximum sharpness. Its max ISO stretches impressively up to 204,800 (boosted). The sensor benefits from Panasonic’s Venus Engine 10 processor for noise reduction and color fidelity.

• NX1000: Packs a higher-resolution 20.3 MP APS-C sensor (23.5 x 15.7 mm), delivering sharper, detailed images in good light. It includes an anti-aliasing filter and max ISO 12,800. The larger APS-C sensor area (approximately 64% bigger than GH5S’s Four Thirds) generally yields better depth of field control, lighter noise floors, and dynamic range - although older sensor tech and entry-level processing temper outright image quality.

In practical testing, the GH5S shines in dim environments and video capture, delivering clean, usable images at high ISO settings - a boon for night or event shooters. The NX1000, while capable in daylight and moderate light, presents more noise and less latitude as ISO climbs.

Contextual note: Because the GH5S opts for fewer megapixels, its resolution maxes at 3680×2760 pixels, whereas the NX1000 reaches nearly 5472×3648 pixels, useful if large prints or heavy cropping are priorities.

How About Viewing and Interface?

An often underestimated user experience factor is the quality of the screen and viewfinder.

The GH5S features a fully articulating 3.2” touchscreen with 1.62-million dot resolution - bright, contrast-rich, and excellent for tricky angles or video self-shooting. Its 3.68-million dot OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) provides 100% coverage with a feel approaching optical viewfinder precision.

Meanwhile, the NX1000 settles for a smaller fixed 3” TFT LCD with 921k dots but completely lacks a viewfinder, requiring framing purely on the rear screen. Outdoors in bright sunlight, this screen can be challenging to see, limiting compositional flexibility.

Autofocus Systems: The Eye of Precision

Autofocus (AF) speed, accuracy, and flexibility remain critical for everything from portraiture to action sports.

• GH5S: Employs a Contrast Detection AF system with 225 focus points. It supports face detection, eye detection, and subject tracking (though lacking phase detection and animal eye AF). Despite no phase detection, the GH5S’s AF is refined enough for most practical uses, emphasizing video AF smoothness and tracking.

• NX1000: Also relies on Contrast Detection AF but with a modest 15 focus points, lacking face or eye detection assistance. Autofocus is slower and less adaptable, best suited for static scenes.

In fast-paced environments like sports or wildlife shooting, the GH5S’s AF system is more responsive but still doesn’t match higher-end phase detection systems today - however, it’s considerably better than the NX1000’s conservative AF.

Burst and Shutter Mechanics: Capturing Decisive Moments

The ability to shoot fast and quietly is instrumental for sports, wildlife, and candid street photography.

The GH5S provides an impressive 12 fps burst with mechanical shutter, essential for tracking quick subjects. Its ultra-fast electronic shutter up to 1/16000s adds flexibility in bright light and silent shooting - a boon for stealth street or wildlife photography.

The NX1000’s 8 fps burst is respectable for an entry model, but its slower shutter ceiling (1/4000s) and absence of electronic shutter limit exposure control and shooting scenarios.

Versatility in Photography Genres: Performance Rundown

Let’s interpret how these cameras perform across various photographic disciplines:

Portrait Photography

Realistic skin tone rendering and pleasing bokeh are key here.

• GH5S: Lower megapixels but effective color science and noise handling produce smooth, natural skin. The Micro Four Thirds sensor’s crop factor (~2.1×) means photographers need fast lenses to achieve shallow depth of field; however, native lens selection is excellent with 107 options supporting creamy bokeh. Eye detection autofocus aids in crisp focus on subjects, essential for professional portraits.

• NX1000: Higher resolution allows crisp detail, but skin tone rendition can be harsher due to older sensor and color processing. Depth of field control is easier with its APS-C sensor and 1.5× crop, leading to better background separation with available lenses (32 compatible lenses). Lack of eye AF hampers focusing precision, especially wide-open.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution are critical.

• GH5S: Though the pixel count is lower, the sensor’s strong high ISO capability and dual native ISO technology maximize dynamic range retention in shadows and highlights. Weather sealing on the GH5S supports outdoor excursions in less-than-ideal conditions.

• NX1000: The 20 MP sensor offers sharper images and finer detail, ideal for landscapes - but dynamic range and highlight recovery is notably limited compared to newer models. No weather sealing restricts harsh environment use.

Wildlife Photography

Tracking speedy, unpredictable subjects is challenging.

• GH5S: Good burst speed, refined AF tracking, and silent shutter options allow minimal disturbance of subjects. But limited zoom lens options with the Micro Four Thirds mount and lower pixel count can require cropping afterward.

• NX1000: Limited burst rate, autofocus points, and no subject tracking make it less suitable for active wildlife photography.

Sports Photography

Fast autofocus and high fps take center stage.

• GH5S: The 12 fps frame rate and reliable AF, combined with fast shutter speeds, capture action sharply. Decent buffer depth maintains continuous shooting for longer bursts.

• NX1000: An 8 fps burst is solid but the slower AF and shutter limit tracking fast-moving athletes.

Street Photography

Compact size, quick response, and discretion matter.

The NX1000 shines here, with its lightweight form and quiet operation, making it a nimble companion for spontaneous urban shooting. Conversely, the GH5S is bulkier and more conspicuous, though its silent shutter mode tempers noise.

Macro Photography

Precision manual focus and stabilization are essential.

Neither camera offers in-body image stabilization (IBIS), though many Micro Four Thirds lenses do. The GH5S’s advanced focusing aids like focus bracketing and stacking help produce razor-sharp works, particularly for macro hobbyists.

Night and Astrophotography

Low noise at high ISO and long exposures dominate.

With a max boosted ISO of 204800 and dual native ISO modes, the GH5S excels in capturing clean astrophotos and night scenes. The NX1000, limited to ISO 12,800 and older sensor design, will struggle with noise and dynamic range in very dark conditions.

Video Capabilities

The GH5S is a renowned video-centric camera, and it shows in this department.

• GH5S: Offers true 4K DCI (4096×2160) up to 60 fps with 150 Mbps bitrates, using professional codecs including H.264 and H.265. Features like V-Log for color grading, headphone and mic jacks, internal image processing, and robust heat dissipation enable extended shoots. The fully articulated touchscreen aids vloggers and filmmakers.

• NX1000: Limited to Full HD 1080p at 30 fps, with basic audio capture and no professional video tools. The fixed screen means awkward angles for video framing.

Travel Photography

Balance of weight, battery life, and versatility.

The GH5S’s weather sealing, dual SD card slots, and battery rated around 440 shots support prolonged travel. However, its size and weight may deter packing ultra-light.

The NX1000 is easy to stow, with decent battery life (~320 shots). However, the absence of weather sealing and a more basic build might limit rugged adventure travel.

Professional Workflows

• GH5S: Supports 12-bit RAW and versatile file formats, compatible with professional tethering and workflow systems. Dual SD UHS-II card slots provide flexible backup or overflow options.

• NX1000: Captures 12-bit RAW but lacks modern connection options and single SD slot limit workflow versatility.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

The GH5S is designed for professional use, boasting weather sealing against dust and moisture, rated for moderate environmental challenges (though not waterproof or freezeproof). Its robust chassis invites reliability under pressure.

The NX1000 is an entry-level rather than rugged body, lacking seals or reinforcements. It demands more care with exposure to the elements.

Lens Ecosystem: Choices to Match Your Style

Lens choice is often underestimated but crucial.

• GH5S’s Micro Four Thirds mount offers over 100 lenses, including prestigious primes and fast zooms from Panasonic, Olympus, and third parties. The mount benefits from decades of development, with numerous macro, telephoto, and wide-angle options - often priced competitively.

• NX1000’s Samsung NX mount is limited to 32 lenses, many discontinued since Samsung exited the camera business. Options for telephoto and specialty lenses are sparse, making long-term expansion tricky.

Connectivity, Storage, and Power

Both cameras provide wireless connectivity, though their vintages reflect differences:

• GH5S: Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support seamless image transfer and remote control via smartphone. Dual UHS-II SD card slots permit overflow or backup. Uses the DMW-BLF19 battery rated for ~440 shots.

• NX1000: Has built-in Wi-Fi only, no Bluetooth. Single SD card slot supports slower UHS-I cards. The BC1030 battery supports ~320 shots.

USB 3.1 on GH5S enables faster tethering and file transfers versus USB 2.0 on NX1000.

Price and Value: Past Meets Present

When launched, the GH5S carried a premium price (~$2,500 body only), targeting video professionals and demanding hybrid shooters. The NX1000 arrived as an affordable beginner camera (~$388), accessible to hobbyists.

Today, the used or discounted prices of the NX1000 make it an attractive entry point for casual shooting, while the GH5S remains a relevant, high-end option, particularly for video and low-light specialists who want pro-grade features at a comparatively affordable Micro Four Thirds scale.

Summarizing the Scores and Takeaways

Our comprehensive evaluation clearly places the GH5S as a versatile, professional hybrid - not just for stills but video as well - while the NX1000 fulfills basic photography needs, with simplicity and value in mind.

Across genres:

• The GH5S excels in video, night photography, and fast-paced action shooting.
• The NX1000 holds up in daylight portraiture, casual landscape, and street photography when subtlety and portability matter.

Real-World Sample Comparisons

Don’t just trust specs - look at the images.

Panasonic GH5S front Panasonic GH5S screen back Samsung NX1000 screen back

Notice the GH5S’s cleaner high ISO files, smoother monochromatic gradations in night shots, and video-friendly outputs. The NX1000’s strengths remain crisp daylight captures and resolution-rich landscapes.

Final Verdict: Who Should Pick Which?

• Choose the Panasonic GH5S if you’re a professional or serious enthusiast who needs stellar video options, strong low-light performance, robust burst speed, and extensive lens choices. Its durable build and weather sealing justify the investment for demanding projects in mixed conditions.

• Opt for the Samsung NX1000 if your needs are casual to intermediate photography with an eye on lightweight carry, simple operation, and cost efficiency. It’s a good starter camera for daylight shooting scenarios or as a gift for new photographers exploring mirrorless without a heavy commitment.

Closing Thoughts From the Field

Having extensively tested both cameras, I see the GH5S as a camera that still punches well above its weight - a video-first hybrid that manages respectable stills with technology that’s aging gracefully. The NX1000 holds nostalgic value and serves as a straightforward system, but with limited longevity and capability for modern photographic ambitions.

Choosing between these cameras is less about technical superiority and more about aligning tools with your personal creative workflow and budget. Both are good boys in their own right - but only if matched to their intended roles.

This was a thorough look at two different eras and mirrorless philosophies. If you want deeper hands-on coaching for specific genres or lens selection advice, feel free to reach out!

Happy shooting!