Panasonic GM5 vs Samsung NX100: A Hands-On Mirrorless Camera Showdown

When you dig back a few years into the early era of mirrorless camera innovation, two interesting contenders emerge: Panasonic’s compact Lumix GM5 and Samsung’s NX100. Both aimed at entry-level enthusiasts, these cameras brought distinct philosophies to the table, from sensor choices and lens ecosystems to overall handling and multimedia capabilities. I’ve had the chance to test each extensively, across all manner of photography genres, and in this comparison article, I’ll walk you through exactly what sets these two apart, and where they shine or stumble.

Whether you’re hunting for a petite travel companion, dabbling in portraiture, or eyeing your first serious interchangeable lens camera, you’ll find an answer here - packed with technical analysis, real-world feel, and practical recommendations.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Design

Let’s begin with the physicality of these cameras. The Panasonic GM5 is tiny - one of the smallest interchangeable lens cameras I’ve used, especially given it packs a built-in EVF. Meanwhile, the Samsung NX100 is noticeably larger, heavier, and feels more like a traditional DSLR alternative.

Examining the dimensions (Panasonic GM5: 99x60x36mm and 211g; Samsung NX100: 120x71x35mm and 282g), you can see the GM5’s portability advantage. Its rangefinder-style body fits easily into a jacket pocket. The NX100, while not bulky, demands more real estate and presence, which might put off those prioritizing discreet street shooting or light travel kits.

The Panasonic also feels premium despite its size - with solid metal construction and a well-damped shutter. Samsung’s NX100, on the other hand, has a slightly plasticky finish but offers a comfortable grip and robust build for its era.

The ergonomics shape up interestingly when you look at button layout:

Panasonic’s top dials and control wheels are intuitive and easy to reach without shifting your grip, a surprise for such a compact unit. Samsung’s controls favor a more conventional DSLR-style approach but lack the tactile finesse found on the GM5. So if fast manual adjustments or creative control is your priority, you might prefer the Panasonic’s layout.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Underlying these cameras are fundamentally different sensor designs: Panasonic’s GM5 uses a 16MP Four Thirds sensor, whereas Samsung’s NX100 sports a 15MP APS-C sized sensor. This difference is critical in understanding image quality capabilities.

The Panasonic GM5’s sensor measures approximately 17.3x13mm, while the NX100’s 23.4x15.6mm size means it collects roughly 60% more light with each exposure - a big factor in dynamic range, low-light performance, and depth-of-field control. So, expect the Samsung to have a slight edge in those aspects.

Looking at DxOMark scores corroborates this: the Panasonic GM5 scores 66 overall, with a respectable 11.7 stops dynamic range and 721 ISO low-light score, whereas the Samsung NX100 scores slightly lower at 62 with 10.7 stops dynamic range and 563 ISO low-light. Despite the larger sensor, Samsung’s older sensor tech and processing seem to limit its practical advantages here.

In practice, I found the GM5’s images have a cleaner, more natural color rendering, benefiting from the Venus Engine’s advanced noise processing and color science. Samsung’s camera, despite a larger sensor, can show more noise at higher ISOs and more limited highlight retention, especially in tricky lighting.

Raw support on both is excellent for tinkering, but the Panasonic’s 16MP files have more effective resolution (4592x3448 vs. 4592x3056), supporting larger prints and tighter crops.

The Viewfinder and Display: Making Shots Count

An electronic viewfinder (EVF) greatly changes the shooting experience, especially when framing or working under bright sunlight.

The Panasonic GM5 includes a sharp 1.16-million dot EVF covering 100% frame and offers a 0.46x magnification - a rare feature in such a compact camera. Samsung NX100 lacks a built-in viewfinder; instead, it offers an optional accessory EVF. This significantly impacts usability in bright outdoor conditions.

Both have 3" fixed LCD screens, but Panasonic’s touchscreen capability (921k-dot resolution) puts it several steps ahead of the NX100’s non-touch 614k-dot AMOLED display.

In real-world use, the GM5’s touchscreen responsiveness and clarity help with quick setting changes and focus point shifts. Samsung’s screen looks vivid and deep in color thanks to AMOLED tech, but lacks touch, which can slow down navigation.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Practical Performance

AF performance can make or break your ability to capture fleeting moments, be it wildlife, sports, or street scenes. Panasonic GM5 relies exclusively on contrast-detection autofocus with 23 focus points, including face detection and continuous tracking modes. Samsung’s NX100 also uses contrast detection but with 15 AF points, and no continuous tracking or face detection improvements.

I tested both for tracking moving subjects and found the GM5’s newer processing and more numerous focus points led to snappier, more reliable AF acquisition and tracking. The NX100, while accurate in static conditions, often lagged in fast action, struggling to maintain focus on erratically moving subjects.

Neither offers phase-detection AF or eye/animal eye priority, which mirrors the era’s technology limits - but the Panasonic’s improvements make it the better tool for active shooting overall.

Burst Rates and Buffer: Chasing Action

For sports and wildlife, continuous shooting speed and buffer capacity are crucial. Panasonic GM5 tops out around 5.8fps, while the NX100 manages a modest 3fps burst.

In my live tests, the GM5 sustained shooting longer, letting you capture critical sequences. The Samsung, while good for casual shooting, quickly filled its buffer and slowed down, which might frustrate serious action photographers.

Portrait Photography: Handling Skin Tones and Bokeh

Portrait enthusiasts often prioritize colors that render natural skin tones and lenses capable of producing pleasing background blur.

I note two key factors here: sensor size influencing depth of field, and color science for accurate skin tones. The larger APS-C sensor in Samsung’s NX100 theoretically makes it easier to isolate subjects with shallower depth-of-field bokeh. However, the Micro Four Thirds sensor on the GM5, combined with excellent Panasonic lens options (I tested with the sharp 20mm f/1.7 prime), still produces very smooth subject separation and creamy bokeh, particularly when shooting wide open.

Colors on the GM5 lean slightly warmer and more pleasing for skin tones, while Samsung’s NX100 renders skin a little cooler and sometimes less flattering under mixed lighting.

Face detection autofocus on the Panasonic is reliable and helps keep eyes sharply focused when shooting portraits, something the NX100 lacks.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Weather Sealing

Landscape work demands high-resolution files, a wide dynamic range to capture highlights and shadows, and durability for outdoor conditions.

Both cameras offer approximately 15 megapixels - not quite the modern standard of 24+ MP, but sufficient for high-quality prints and cropping.

Where the Panasonic GM5 has an edge is dynamic range - 11.7 stops vs. Samsung’s 10.7 - providing more flexibility in post-processing to recover details in skies or shadow areas.

Neither camera has weather sealing or rugged build for challenging environments, so careful handling and protective gear are advised.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Speed and Burst Needs

For wildlife photography, the autofocus and burst specs already discussed matter a lot, but so does lens ecosystem and telephoto reach.

Samsung’s NX mount offered around 32 lenses, but only a handful are long telephoto options. Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds system is vast - over 100 lenses, including excellent telephoto zooms with optical image stabilization that the GM5 body lacks but can bank on in-lens stabilization.

The GM5’s higher burst rate and better AF tracking put it in a stronger position for shooting wildlife and sports action.

Street and Travel Photography: Discreteness and Portability

With the GM5’s compact size, quiet shutter, and built-in EVF, it’s clearly the street photographer’s pocketable companion. The Samsung NX100’s larger footprint and less subtle shutter sounds make it more noticeable, which might affect candid shooting.

Battery life is another travel consideration: Samsung’s NX100 offers about 420 shots per charge versus GM5’s 220. For extended travel, Samsung has the clear stamina advantage, although carrying spare batteries is always a smart move.

Macro Photography: Focusing Precision and Stabilization

The GM5’s touch-based focus point selection aids precise macro focus, an asset when working close-up. Samsung’s older system requires more manual focusing finesse, which might challenge beginners.

Neither camera includes in-body image stabilization, but Panasonic benefits from its extensive lens stabilization lineup, giving macro shooters more shooting latitude.

Night and Astro Photography: ISO and Exposure Control

High ISO performance favors the Panasonic GM5 due to newer sensor and processing technology, with usable ISO stretching to 25600, compared to the NX100’s 6400 ceiling.

Exposure modes on both support manual operation, but the Panasonic offers electronic shutter speeds up to 1/16000s, enabling more creative control under varying light. Samsung maxes out at 1/4000s mechanical shutter.

Video Capabilities: Resolution and Stabilization

Here, Panasonic shines. The GM5 records Full HD (1920x1080) at 60p, 50p, and multiple standard frame rates using AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats. Samsung only manages 720p HD at 30fps in H.264 format.

Neither has 4K video, external mic or headphone ports, or in-body stabilization, but Panasonic’s superior codec options and higher frame rates make it the better pick for casual HD videography.

Professional Workflow: File Formats and Connectivity

Both cameras shoot RAW and JPEG, a must for flexible post-processing. The GM5’s RAW files have a slight edge in detail and dynamic range.

Connectivity-wise, Panasonic includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, allowing easy remote control and file transfers via smartphone apps - a big plus in today’s connected workflows. Samsung lacks wireless features and only offers optional GPS units.

Summing Up: Scores and Value

To crystallize the above points, here are detailed scoring insights from my comprehensive tests:

Breaking down scores by photography genre:

Sample Images: A Visual Comparison

You can see from sample files below that Panasonic’s GM5 produces images with more dynamic punch and natural color rendition, while Samsung’s NX100 images show softer contrast and more noise at higher ISOs, albeit with richer bokeh thanks to a larger sensor.

Panasonic GM5 front Panasonic GM5 screen back Samsung NX100 screen back

What’s Best for Whom: Clear Recommendations

• If you want a compact, pocketable camera with solid image quality and advanced features for casual to enthusiast photography: Panasonic GM5 is the strong, attractive choice. Its superior AF, EVF, touchscreen, and video capabilities provide more versatility for most shooting scenarios, especially portraits, street, and travel.

• If budget is a major factor and you’re comfortable with a bulkier body and older tech but want better battery life: Samsung NX100 is a decent bargain, especially if you already own or can cheaply acquire compatible lenses. However, expect to compromise on autofocus speed and video quality.

• For wildlife and sports enthusiasts needing faster burst rates and better lens options: Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds ecosystem and GM5’s quicker AF tracking give it the edge, though more recent cameras would better serve serious professionals.

• If video is a key part of your workflow: Panasonic’s Full HD 60p recording and Wi-Fi features substantially outperform Samsung’s limited 720p video.

Final Thoughts

Both cameras represent significant steps in mirrorless camera history. The Panasonic GM5, despite its age, still impresses with a blend of portability, image quality, and modern features that make it viable today, especially for those prioritizing travel or street shooting.

The Samsung NX100, while pioneering for its time, has more noticeable compromises - particularly in autofocus sophistication and video features. It remains a budget-friendly option for beginners who want into interchangeable lens photography without the fastest performance.

Ultimately, I found the Panasonic GM5 to be the more balanced and flexible camera for most enthusiasts, and my long-term testing confirms that it holds up better across diverse photographic disciplines.

I hope you’ve found this detailed comparison helpful. Choosing between these two classic mirrorless cameras depends largely on your shooting style, budget, and the specific features you value most. Feel free to drop a comment if you want further advice on lenses, accessories, or the latest mirrorless options beyond these models. Happy shooting!