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Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
54
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Panasonic GX1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 318g - 116 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Successor is Panasonic GX7
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic GX1 versus Panasonic S2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Panasonic. The resolution of the GX1 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is very comparable but the GX1 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The GX1 was launched 2 months later than the S2 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GX1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the GX1 grades versus the S2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Panasonic S2

 GX1 S2 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Panasonic GX1

 S2 GX1 

Common features in the Panasonic GX1 and Panasonic S2

 GX1 S2 
IntroducedFebruary 2012January 2012Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GX1 comes with external dimensions of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs) and the Panasonic S2 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GX1 versus Panasonic S2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the GX1 compared to the S2.

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GX1 and S2 is 87 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing technical specs. The visual below should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the GX1 and S2.

As you can tell, each of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GX1 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic GX1 will show greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GX1
Portrait photography with Panasonic S2
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GX1
Street photography with Panasonic S2
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch focus
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (112 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GX1
Sports photography with Panasonic S2
47
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (300 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
good battery life (280 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Travel photography camera
65
comes with touch focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
low battery (300 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
70
good battery life (280 per charge)
lighter than competitors in class (112 grams)
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography highlights
62
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low battery (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
41
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
good battery life (280 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Vlogging info
Panasonic S2 Vlogging info
32
has touchscreen
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no external mic jack
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than competitors in class (112 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
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Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX1 and Panasonic S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-02-14 2012-01-09
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD -
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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3448 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.60 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 318 grams (0.70 lb) 112 grams (0.25 lb)
Dimensions 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 703 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 280 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $228 $109