Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99
81 Imaging
49 Features
57 Overall
52


57 Imaging
69 Features
88 Overall
76
Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
- Announced July 2009
- New Model is Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
- 24MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 25600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
- Announced December 2012
- Replaced the Sony A900
- Replacement is Sony A99 II

Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99 Overview
Its time to examine more closely at the Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the GH1 (12MP) and A99 (24MP) and the GH1 (Four Thirds) and A99 (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

The GH1 was brought out 4 years before the A99 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise summary of how the GH1 scores versus the A99 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 & Sony SLT-A99. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic GH1 Gallery & Sony A99 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Sony A99
GH1 | A99 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Panasonic GH1
A99 | GH1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | December 2012 | ![]() | July 2009 | More modern by 41 months |
Display resolution | 1229k | ![]() | 460k | Clearer display (+769k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Sony A99
GH1 | A99 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Very accurate focusing | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated display |
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Identical display measurement |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Both are selfie friendly | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither provides Touch display |
Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH1 provides outside measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) while the Sony A99 has dimensions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).
Contrast the Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the GH1 compared to the A99.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH1 and A99 is 81 and 57 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison
Normally, its difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by going over specifications. The picture underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the GH1 and A99.
Plainly, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GH1 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony A99 will offer greater detail having its extra 12MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The more aged GH1 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 | Sony SLT-A99 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Panasonic | Sony |
Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 | Sony SLT-A99 |
Type | Advanced Mirrorless | Advanced DSLR |
Announced | 2009-07-10 | 2012-12-12 |
Body design | SLR-style mirrorless | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Venus Engine HD | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | Full frame |
Sensor dimensions | 18.89 x 14.48mm | 35.8 x 23.8mm |
Sensor area | 273.5mm² | 852.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12MP | 24MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 6000 x 4000 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 25600 |
Max enhanced ISO | 3200 | - |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detection autofocus | ||
Contract detection autofocus | ||
Phase detection autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | - | 19 |
Cross focus points | - | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Number of lenses | 107 | 143 |
Crop factor | 1.9 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated |
Screen size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Screen resolution | 460 thousand dot | 1,229 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen technology | - | TFT Xtra Fine color LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 2,359 thousand dot |
Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.71x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Max shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Continuous shutter speed | 3.0fps | 10.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 10.50 m | no built-in flash |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/160 seconds | 1/250 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
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 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | AVCHD | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
Mic 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 | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 385g (0.85 lbs) | 812g (1.79 lbs) |
Dimensions | 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") | 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 64 | 89 |
DXO Color Depth score | 21.6 | 25.0 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 11.6 | 14.0 |
DXO Low light score | 772 | 1555 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 320 pictures | 500 pictures |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC | Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC |
Storage slots | One | Dual |
Price at release | $949 | $1,998 |