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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Updated by Panasonic GH2
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS7
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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Below is a complete overview of the Panasonic GH1 versus Panasonic ZS8, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are manufactured by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GH1 (12MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the GH1 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The GH1 was brought out 24 months prior to the ZS8 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the GH1 scores vs the ZS8 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Panasonic ZS8

 GH1 ZS8 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Panasonic GH1

 ZS8 GH1 
RevealedJuly 2011July 2009More recent by 24 months

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic ZS8

 GH1 ZS8 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH1 enjoys outer 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 ZS8 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GH1 versus Panasonic ZS8 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the GH1 vs the ZS8.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the GH1 and ZS8 is 81 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the contrast between sensor measurements only by checking specifications. The graphic here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the GH1 and ZS8.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GH1 due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS8 will resolve greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older GH1 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH1
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
59
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
30
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography info
72
screen can move to multiple angles
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (210 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography factors
32
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (320 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
47
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography advice
58
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (320 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
69
lighter than others (210g)
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GH1
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS8
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery life (320 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
44
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Vlogging camera
72
selfie friendly screen
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic support
no image stabilization
30
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (210 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic ZS8
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-07-10 2011-07-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD Venus Engine FHD
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 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 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 1.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.50 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 385g (0.85 lb) 210g (0.46 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 images 340 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $949 $275