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Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic GH2 Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Released April 2009
Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Revealed March 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH3
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Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Panasonic FS12 and Panasonic GH2, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Panasonic. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and GH2 (16MP) and the FS12 (1/2.3") and GH2 (Four Thirds) provide different sensor size.

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The FS12 was introduced 23 months prior to the GH2 making them a generation away from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short overview of how the FS12 matches up versus the GH2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Panasonic GH2

 FS12 GH2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Panasonic FS12

 GH2 FS12 
RevealedMarch 2011April 2009More modern by 23 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Panasonic GH2

 FS12 GH2 

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FS12 has got physical dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH2 has specifications of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") and a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FS12 and Panasonic GH2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the FS12 compared to the GH2.

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS12 and GH2 is 95 and 70 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes merely by researching specs. The pic underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FS12 and GH2.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FS12 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Panasonic GH2 will provide you with greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged FS12 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography features
Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography features
20
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
70
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FS12
Street photography with Panasonic GH2
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
68
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GH2 Sports photography advice
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
46
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (330 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FS12
Travel photography with Panasonic GH2
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
62
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography features
Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography features
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (330 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FS12
Vlogging with Panasonic GH2
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of mic port
71
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic jack
no image stabilization
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Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Panasonic GH2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Type Ultracompact Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2009-04-17 2011-03-23
Body design Ultracompact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 160
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 31-124mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.9 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 15.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 129g (0.28 lbs) 442g (0.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 60
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 655
Other
Battery life - 330 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $228 $1,000