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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Successor is Panasonic GH2
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Here is a in-depth review of the Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Panasonic. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the GH1 (12MP) and SZ1 (16MP) and the GH1 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The GH1 was announced 3 years prior to the SZ1 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summation of how the GH1 grades vs the SZ1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Panasonic SZ1

 GH1 SZ1 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic GH1

 SZ1 GH1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012July 2009Fresher by 30 months

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic SZ1

 GH1 SZ1 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH1 enjoys external dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ1 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the GH1 versus the SZ1.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the GH1 and SZ1 is 81 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to see the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading a spec sheet. The graphic here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the GH1 and SZ1.

Clearly, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GH1 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic SZ1 will deliver extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older GH1 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography details
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
34
good resolution (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Street photography features
Panasonic SZ1 Street photography features
72
screen articulates
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (131 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography info
32
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (320 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography info
58
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (320 shots)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
70
lighter than competition (131g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography advice
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
terrible battery pack (320 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
43
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging factors
72
screen is selfie friendly
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic socket
lack of image stabilization
32
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than competition (131g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack
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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic SZ1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-07-10 2012-01-09
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 18.89 x 14.48mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 273.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Highest boosted ISO 3200 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 1.9 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 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 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385 grams (0.85 lb) 131 grams (0.29 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 772 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 images 250 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $949 $179