• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  •  
  • APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800

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Differences

Panasonic GH1 advantages over Canon EOS M

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Fast startup
    ~1.80 vs 2.7 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 320 vs 230 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    280 mm vs 88 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Less shutter lag
    0.34 vs 0.74 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Canon EOS M advantages over Panasonic GH1

  • Less expensive
    $600 vs $1500 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Thinner
    32 mm vs 45 mm
    Thinner
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • More dots on screen
    1040k vs 460k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • More pixels
    18.0 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    4.2 fps vs 2.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Panasonic GH1

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Buy the Canon EOS M

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent image quality similar to Rebel T4i, T5i and SL1 DSLRs, with 18-megapixel APS-C-type sensor delivering considerable resolution for a mirrorless camera; Solid build and sleek design; Bright, high-resolution 3-inch LCD touchscreen monitor; Full 1080p HD video recording that's virtually silent with an STM lens.

  • Barely acceptable autofocus speed still lags far behind most mirrorless cameras despite firmware update fix; Limited physical controls and buttons, including no Program, Priority, or Manual on Mode dial; Lacks built-in flash or electronic viewfinder option; Only two compact EF-M mount lenses currently available.

  • Read our Canon EOS M Review

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic G2

Panasonic GH1
Panasonic G2
  • $1315
  • 4/3
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More dynamic range
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compare Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic G2

Canon EOS M
Panasonic G2
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Less expensive
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon EOS M vs Panasonic G2

Compared to Panasonic GH2

Panasonic GH1
Panasonic GH2
  • $1315
  • 4/3
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Thinner
  • $1500
  • 4/3
  • Fast startup
  • More pixels

Compare Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH2

Canon EOS M
Panasonic GH2
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Less expensive
  • $1500
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon EOS M vs Panasonic GH2

Compared to Sony NEX-5N

Panasonic GH1
Sony NEX-5N
  • $1315
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GH1 vs Sony NEX-5N

Canon EOS M
Sony NEX-5N
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M vs Sony NEX-5N

Compared to Olympus E-M5

Panasonic GH1
Olympus E-M5
  • $1315
  • 4/3
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Internal flash
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Touchscreen

Compare Panasonic GH1 vs Olympus E-M5

Canon EOS M
Olympus E-M5
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon EOS M vs Olympus E-M5

Compared to Sony NEX-5R

Panasonic GH1
Sony NEX-5R
  • $1315
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking

Compare Panasonic GH1 vs Sony NEX-5R

Canon EOS M
Sony NEX-5R
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • External Mic Jack
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking

Compare Canon EOS M vs Sony NEX-5R

Compare Other Cameras?