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Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic XS1

Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic XS1 Key Specs

Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 560g - 133 x 93 x 84mm
  • Announced February 2014
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH3
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH5
Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Released January 2013
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Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic XS1 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Panasonic GH4 versus Panasonic XS1, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GH4 (16MP) and the XS1 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the GH4 (Four Thirds) and XS1 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The GH4 was introduced 14 months after the XS1 making them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the GH4 grades vs the XS1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Panasonic XS1

 GH4 XS1 
ReleasedFebruary 2014January 2013Newer by 14 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1036k230kSharper display (+806k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Panasonic GH4

 XS1 GH4 

Common features in the Panasonic GH4 and Panasonic XS1

 GH4 XS1 

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic XS1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH4 has got outside dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") along with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) whilst the Panasonic XS1 has measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") along with a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic GH4 versus Panasonic XS1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the GH4 against the XS1.

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic XS1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the GH4 and XS1 is 66 and 97 respectively.

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic XS1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic XS1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions just by looking at specs. The picture here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH4 and XS1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature the identical resolution but different sensor dimensions. The GH4 contains the larger sensor which should make achieving bokeh easier. The more recent GH4 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic XS1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Portrait photography information
Panasonic XS1 Portrait photography information
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
30
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH4
Street photography with Panasonic XS1
71
fully articulated screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has focus via touch
environment sealing
lighter than average in class (560g)
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (103g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Sports photography features
Panasonic XS1 Sports photography features
62
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect AF
41
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Travel photography details
Panasonic XS1 Travel photography details
77
lighter than average in class (560g)
environment sealing
has focus via touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition (103 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic XS1 Landscape photography advice
72
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
39
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Vlogging information
Panasonic XS1 Vlogging information
71
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
has face detection focusing
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
has external microphone support
lighter than average in class (560g)
lack of image stabilization
31
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (103 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic support
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Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic XS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH4 and Panasonic XS1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-02-07 2013-01-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IX -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 49 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 1,036k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology OLED TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 12.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 17.00 m (at ISO 200) 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 25p, 30p), 1920 x 1080 (24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, 60p), 1280 x 720 (24p, 25p, 30p), 640 x 480 (25p, 30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 560 gr (1.23 lbs) 103 gr (0.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 791 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 photos 260 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLF19 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $1,500 $130