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Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
93
Imaging
53
Features
60
Overall
55
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Panasonic GM1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 204g - 99 x 55 x 30mm
  • Revealed December 2013
  • Successor is Panasonic GM5
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 GM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic GM1 versus Pentax RZ18, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the GM1 (16MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is very well matched but the GM1 (Four Thirds) and RZ18 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The GM1 was launched 2 years later than the RZ18 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the GM1 scores vs the RZ18 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GM1 over the Pentax RZ18

 GM1 RZ18 
IntroducedDecember 2013September 2011More recent by 28 months
Display resolution1036k460kSharper display (+576k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic GM1

 RZ18 GM1 

Common features in the Panasonic GM1 and Pentax RZ18

 GM1 RZ18 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GM1 provides physical dimensions of 99mm x 55mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 204 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Pentax RZ18 has proportions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GM1 versus Pentax RZ18 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view size comparison of the GM1 against the RZ18.

Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the GM1 and RZ18 is 93 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements simply by checking a spec sheet. The visual below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the GM1 and RZ18.

As you can see, both cameras have the same resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The GM1 provides the larger sensor which should make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult. The younger GM1 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GM1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Portrait photography camera
65
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
36
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GM1
Street photography with Pentax RZ18
77
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (204g)
great high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
lighter than others (178 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GM1 Sports photography details
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography details
48
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (230 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GM1 Travel photography features
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography features
74
lighter than competition in class (204 grams)
includes focus via touch
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
not so great battery pack (230 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
71
lighter than others (178g)
environment sealing
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (450mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GM1 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography highlights
69
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (230 shots)
49
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
environment sealing
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GM1
Vlogging with Pentax RZ18
35
screen is touchscreen
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (204 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no external microphone support
30
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (178 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
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Panasonic GM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GM1 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Pentax Optio RZ18
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-12-19 2011-09-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4592 x 3448 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,036k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/500 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/50 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 24p), 1280 x 720p (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 204 gr (0.45 lbs) 178 gr (0.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 99 x 55 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 660 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $750 $210