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Panasonic GF1 vs Samsung NX5

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
Samsung NX5 front
Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
50
Overall
53

Panasonic GF1 vs Samsung NX5 Key Specs

Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF2
Samsung NX5
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 499g - 123 x 87 x 40mm
  • Revealed June 2010
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GF1 vs Samsung NX5 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Panasonic GF1 versus Samsung NX5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Panasonic and Samsung. The resolution of the GF1 (12MP) and the NX5 (15MP) is pretty comparable but the GF1 (Four Thirds) and NX5 (APS-C) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The GF1 was released 7 months before the NX5 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung NX5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the GF1 scores against the NX5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Samsung NX5

 GF1 NX5 
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung NX5 over the Panasonic GF1

 NX5 GF1 
RevealedJune 2010October 2009More recent by 7 months

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and Samsung NX5

 GF1 NX5 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic GF1 vs Samsung NX5 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF1 has got exterior dimensions of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) and the Samsung NX5 has sizing of 123mm x 87mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GF1 versus Samsung NX5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the GF1 and the NX5.

Panasonic GF1 vs Samsung NX5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the GF1 and NX5 is 85 and 80 respectively.

Panasonic GF1 vs Samsung NX5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Samsung NX5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements only by seeing technical specs. The visual below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the GF1 and NX5.

As you have seen, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GF1 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Samsung NX5 will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 3MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The older GF1 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF1 vs Samsung NX5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Samsung NX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF1 vs Samsung NX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Portrait photography factors
Samsung NX5 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Street photography highlights
Samsung NX5 Street photography highlights
64
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (499g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX5 as a Sports photography camera
44
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
great battery (380 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect autofocus
52
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good battery (400 shots)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Travel photography info
Samsung NX5 Travel photography info
59
great battery (380 CIPA)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
63
good battery (400 shots)
megapixel count good (15MP)
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (499g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Landscape photography advice
Samsung NX5 Landscape photography advice
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
great battery (380 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
68
manual focus
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
megapixel count good (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good battery (400 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Vlogging features
Samsung NX5 Vlogging features
25
comes with face detect autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
24
comes with face detection focus
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (499 grams)
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Panasonic GF1 vs Samsung NX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and Samsung NX5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Samsung NX5
General Information
Make Panasonic Samsung
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Samsung NX5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-10-14 2010-06-01
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD DRIM Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 15MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 15
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Number of lenses 107 32
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 11.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format AVCHD Lite H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385 grams (0.85 lbs) 499 grams (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") 123 x 87 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 513 not tested
Other
Battery life 380 photos 400 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $400 $499