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Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20

Portability
85
Imaging
46
Features
47
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20 Key Specs

Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Revealed October 2009
  • New Model is Panasonic GF2
Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Released May 2009
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Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the GF1 (12MP) and the H20 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the GF1 (Four Thirds) and H20 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The GF1 was announced 6 months after the H20 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony H20 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the GF1 scores vs the H20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Sony H20

 GF1 H20 
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Panasonic GF1

 H20 GF1 

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and Sony H20

 GF1 H20 
ReleasedOctober 2009May 2009Similar generation
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF1 enjoys exterior dimensions of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) while the Sony H20 has measurements of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the GF1 against the H20.

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GF1 and H20 is 85 and 87 respectively.

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading through technical specs. The pic below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF1 and H20.

As you can tell, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GF1 with its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Panasonic GF1 will resolve more detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively.

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF1
Portrait photography with Sony H20
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
27
manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Street photography factors
Sony H20 Street photography factors
64
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than average (250 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony H20 as a Sports photography camera
44
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect AF
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony H20 as a Travel photography camera
59
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
51
built-in flash
very long zoom (380mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (250 grams)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Landscape photography factors
Sony H20 Landscape photography factors
60
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (380 shots)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
no Timelapse recording
36
manual focus
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Vlogging details
Sony H20 Vlogging details
25
features face detect focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone port
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
more heavy than average (250 grams)
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Panasonic GF1 vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and Sony H20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-10-14 2009-05-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 38-380mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-4.4
Macro focus distance - 2cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format AVCHD Lite -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 385 gr (0.85 lb) 250 gr (0.55 lb)
Dimensions 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 513 not tested
Other
Battery life 380 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $400 $249