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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Updated by Panasonic GH2
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Following is a comprehensive review of the Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GH1 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly similar but the GH1 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The GH1 was revealed 5 years before the MX-1 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the GH1 grades vs the MX-1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Pentax MX-1

 GH1 MX-1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic GH1

 MX-1 GH1 
RevealedJuly 2013July 2009More modern by 48 months
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax MX-1

 GH1 MX-1 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH1 has got physical measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the GH1 compared to the MX-1.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GH1 and MX-1 is 81 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes simply by reviewing technical specs. The picture underneath will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the GH1 and MX-1.

As you have seen, both cameras have got the exact same megapixels but different sensor sizes. The GH1 contains the larger sensor which should make getting shallow DOF simpler. The more aged GH1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography details
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography details
59
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
42
has manual focus
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Street photography features
Pentax MX-1 Street photography features
72
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
65
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than others (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Sports photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography factors
32
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (320 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
good battery pack (290 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Travel photography details
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography details
58
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (320 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
61
good battery pack (290 per charge)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (391g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (320 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
55
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (290 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH1
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
72
display is selfie friendly
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone port
lack of image stabilization
33
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than others (391g)
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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Pentax MX-1
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-07-10 2013-07-01
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 18.89 x 14.48mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 273.5mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 3200 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 1.9 4.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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) 391 gr (0.86 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 64 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 11.3
DXO Low light rating 772 208
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 290 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $949 $400