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Panasonic GF1 vs YI M1

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
YI M1 front
Portability
87
Imaging
60
Features
66
Overall
62

Panasonic GF1 vs YI M1 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
  • Introduced October 2009
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF2
YI M1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 350g - 114 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed September 2016
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GF1 vs YI M1 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic GF1 versus YI M1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and YI. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the GF1 (12MP) and M1 (20MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The GF1 was launched 8 years prior to the M1 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the GF1 grades vs the M1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the YI M1

 GF1 M1 

Reasons to pick YI M1 over the Panasonic GF1

 M1 GF1 
RevealedSeptember 2016October 2009More modern by 84 months
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and YI M1

 GF1 M1 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic GF1 vs YI M1 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF1 offers physical measurements of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) whilst the YI M1 has proportions of 114mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 350 grams (0.77 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GF1 versus YI M1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the GF1 compared to the M1.

Panasonic GF1 vs YI M1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the GF1 and M1 is 85 and 87 respectively.

Panasonic GF1 vs YI M1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs YI M1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at technical specs. The picture here might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the GF1 and M1.

As you can tell, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the YI M1 to resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged GF1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF1 vs YI M1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs YI M1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF1 vs YI M1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Portrait photography details
YI M1 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
76
focusing manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF1 as a Street photography camera
YI M1 as a Street photography camera
64
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
no image stabilization
74
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Sports photography info
YI M1 Sports photography info
44
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect AF
55
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery life (450 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Travel photography information
YI M1 Travel photography information
59
better than average battery power (380 shots)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
78
good battery life (450 CIPA)
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
good megapixels (20MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Landscape photography information
YI M1 Landscape photography information
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (380 shots)
no image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
77
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (450 shots)
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Vlogging factors
YI M1 Vlogging factors
25
features face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
33
touchscreen enabled
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Panasonic GF1 vs YI M1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and YI M1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1YI M1
General Information
Make Panasonic YI
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 YI M1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-10-14 2016-09-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 81
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Red-Eye Slow
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 75 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
Highest video resolution 1280x720 4096x2160
Video file format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385 gr (0.85 lb) 350 gr (0.77 lb)
Dimensions 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") 114 x 64 x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 450 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $400 $320