• 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 140.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 20.3 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600

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Differences

Canon G16 advantages over Panasonic GH5

  • Less expensive
    $499* vs $1298
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Slower slow-motion
    240 fps vs 180 fps
    Supports slower slow-mo
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 770 vs 410 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Thinner
    40 mm vs 87 mm
    Thinner
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/2000 vs 1/250 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Lighter weight
    355g vs 725g
    Lighter weight
  • Longer exposure
    250 vs 60 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Panasonic GH5 advantages over Canon G16

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs none
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Larger sensor
    4/3 vs 1/1.7 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.34 vs 1.90 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (DCI) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~1.00 vs 1.8 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Better color depth
    23.9 vs 21.0 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    807 vs 230 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    13.0 vs 11.7 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    8 years vs 11 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Higher-res screen
    405k vs 307k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Less shutter lag
    0.13 vs 0.31 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    20.3 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    600 vs 5 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    11.9 fps vs 1.8 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    65 vs 39 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Slow-motion videos
    Both provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • AF speed vastly improved; Increased continuous frames per second (JPEGs at 12.5fps vs 10fps in G15); Solid build and ergonomic, comfortable feel; Excellent f/1.8-2.8 5x optical zoom lens; Advanced photographic features, including PASM dial and RAW capture; Dedicated ISO button; Customizable buttons; Excellent macro mode; 1080p/60fps Full HD video.

  • LCD screen not articulated; Larger design makes it not very pocketable; Optical viewfinder not very accurate; RAW burst shooting still slow; Wi-Fi is clunky to set-up & no remote shooting capabilities; No built-in GPS.

  • 20MP sensor; Better per-pixel sharpness; Very good, slightly improved dynamic range and high ISOs; Stellar 4K video up to 60p with no crop; 6K Photo; Dual UHS-II SD slots; Good battery life for its class.

  • Buffer is deep, but slow to clear; Expensive; Menus still confusing; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash.

The Competition

Compared to Olympus XZ-2

Canon G16
Olympus XZ-2
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas
Panasonic GH5
Olympus XZ-2
  • $1348
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Internal flash

Compared to Canon G15

Canon G16
Canon G15
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $650
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Shoots 24p video
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
Panasonic GH5
Canon G15
  • $1348
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $650
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Internal flash

Compared to Pentax MX-1

Canon G16
Pentax MX-1
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $399
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen
Panasonic GH5
Pentax MX-1
  • $1348
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $399
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Internal flash

Compared to Panasonic G9

Canon G16
Panasonic G9
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $965
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Larger sensor
Panasonic GH5
Panasonic G9
  • $1348
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • $965
  • 4/3
  • High resolution composite
  • Top deck display

Compared to Panasonic G95

Canon G16
Panasonic G95
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $848
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Panasonic GH5
Panasonic G95
  • $1348
  • 4/3
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $848
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
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