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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GH2
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS50
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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic ZS45, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are sold by Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the GH1 (12MP) and ZS45 (16MP) and the GH1 (Four Thirds) and ZS45 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The GH1 was brought out 6 years earlier than the ZS45 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the GH1 grades versus the ZS45 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Panasonic ZS45

 GH1 ZS45 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Panasonic GH1

 ZS45 GH1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015July 2009More modern by 66 months
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic ZS45

 GH1 ZS45 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH1 provides exterior dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS45 has measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

See the Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic ZS45 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the GH1 and the ZS45.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GH1 and ZS45 is 81 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through technical specs. The pic underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH1 and ZS45.

As you have seen, both cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GH1 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic ZS45 will result in more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged GH1 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH1
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS45
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
37
megapixel count good (16MP)
features face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Street photography camera
72
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (249g)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography info
32
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery pack (320 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
55
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
better than average battery life (350 per charge)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Travel photography camera
58
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (320 shots)
low MP (12MP)
71
better than average battery life (350 per charge)
lighter than competition (249 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography info
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery pack (320 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
47
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
better than average battery life (350 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Vlogging camera
72
display is selfie friendly
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic support
does not have image stabilization
34
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (249 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone socket
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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic ZS45
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-07-10 2015-01-06
Physical type 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 21
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 1.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4
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 grams (0.85 lbs) 249 grams (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 350 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $949 $300