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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Key Specs

Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH2
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2012
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Panasonic GH1 versus Panasonic SZ7, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both built by Panasonic. The resolution of the GH1 (12MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is fairly similar but the GH1 (Four Thirds) and SZ7 (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The GH1 was revealed 3 years earlier than the SZ7 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the GH1 grades versus the SZ7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Panasonic SZ7

 GH1 SZ7 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Panasonic GH1

 SZ7 GH1 
LaunchedJanuary 2012July 2009More recent by 30 months

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic SZ7

 GH1 SZ7 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH1 enjoys outside measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ7 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GH1 versus Panasonic SZ7 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the GH1 versus the SZ7.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the GH1 and SZ7 is 81 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by going over a spec sheet. The visual below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the GH1 and SZ7.

Clearly, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GH1 using its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic SZ7 will offer you greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The older GH1 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH1
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ7
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
33
good resolution (14MP)
offers face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Street photography features
Panasonic SZ7 Street photography features
72
fully articulated screen
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (133g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography highlights
32
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
low battery power (320 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
43
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography info
58
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery power (320 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
70
lighter than competitors in class (133g)
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography advice
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery power (320 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
42
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Vlogging advice
Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging advice
72
selfie friendly screen
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone socket
lack of image stabilization
35
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (133 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic SZ7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Category 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 CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 18.89 x 14.48mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 273.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 3200 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 4cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 1.9 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.50 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 385 grams (0.85 pounds) 133 grams (0.29 pounds)
Physical 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 score 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 772 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photographs 220 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $949 $199