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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
81
Imaging
50
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Updated by Panasonic GH2
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Introduced September 2011
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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax RZ18, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the GH1 (12MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the GH1 (Four Thirds) and RZ18 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The GH1 was released 3 years prior to the RZ18 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the GH1 grades versus the RZ18 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Pentax RZ18

 GH1 RZ18 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic GH1

 RZ18 GH1 
IntroducedSeptember 2011July 2009Fresher by 26 months

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax RZ18

 GH1 RZ18 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH1 offers 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) while the Pentax RZ18 has sizing of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Panasonic GH1 and Pentax RZ18 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the GH1 and the RZ18.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the GH1 and RZ18 is 81 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to envision the difference between sensor sizing purely by checking a spec sheet. The photograph below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the GH1 and RZ18.

Clearly, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GH1 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Pentax RZ18 will resolve extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The older GH1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography information
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
36
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Street photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Street photography advice
72
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lighter than competition (178g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH1
Sports photography with Pentax RZ18
33
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (320 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
47
excellent zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography highlights
58
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (320 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
71
lighter than competition (178g)
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (450mm)
no Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Landscape photography camera
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (320 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
49
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Vlogging features
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging features
72
selfie friendly screen
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic support
does not have image stabilization
30
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (178 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone port
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Panasonic GH1 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Pentax Optio RZ18
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-07-10 2011-09-12
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Max enhanced ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 1.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
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, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385 grams (0.85 lb) 178 grams (0.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" 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 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI92
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 One One
Retail pricing $949 $210