Canon M50 vs Panasonic GM1

The Canon EOS M50 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2018 and October 2013. Both the M50 and the GM1 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on an APS-C (M50) and a Four Thirds (GM1) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 15.8 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon M50		Panasonic GM1
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF-M mount lenses		Micro Four Thirds lenses
24 MP, APS-C Sensor		15.8 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
4K/24p Video		1080/60i Video
ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200)		ISO 200-25,600
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		3.0 LCD, 1036k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Fixed touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second		5 shutter flaps per second
235 shots per battery charge		230 shots per battery charge
116 x 88 x 59 mm, 390 g		99 x 55 x 30 mm, 204 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS M50 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon M50 and the Panasonic GM1 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The M50 can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the GM1 is available in three color-versions (black, silver, red).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic GM1 is considerably smaller (47 percent) than the Canon M50. Moreover, the GM1 is substantially lighter (48 percent) than the M50. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the M50 nor the GM1 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the M50 gets 235 shots out of its LP-E12 battery, while the GM1 can take 230 images on a single charge of its DMW-BLH7 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from the full list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life 1	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch 2	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon M50	4.6 in	3.5 in	2.3 in	13.8 oz	235	n	Feb 2018	779
	Panasonic GM1	3.9 in	2.2 in	1.2 in	7.2 oz	230	n	Oct 2013	749
	Canon SL3	4.8 in	3.7 in	2.8 in	15.8 oz	1070	n	Apr 2019	599
	Canon G5 X Mark II	4.4 in	2.4 in	1.8 in	12.0 oz	230	n	Jul 2019	899
	Canon M6 Mark II	4.7 in	2.8 in	1.9 in	14.4 oz	305	n	Aug 2019	849
	Canon T7	5.1 in	4.0 in	3.1 in	16.8 oz	500	n	Feb 2018	449
	Canon M6	4.4 in	2.7 in	1.8 in	13.8 oz	295	n	Feb 2017	779
	Canon M100	4.3 in	2.6 in	1.4 in	10.7 oz	295	n	Aug 2017	499
	Canon SL2	4.8 in	3.7 in	2.8 in	16.0 oz	650	n	Jun 2017	549
	Canon T7i	5.2 in	3.9 in	3.0 in	18.8 oz	600	n	Feb 2017	749
	Canon M5	4.6 in	3.5 in	2.4 in	15.1 oz	295	n	Sep 2016	979
	Canon M3	4.4 in	2.7 in	1.7 in	12.9 oz	250	n	Feb 2015	679
	Panasonic GM5	3.9 in	2.4 in	1.4 in	7.4 oz	220	n	Sep 2014	749
	Panasonic G6	4.8 in	3.3 in	2.8 in	13.8 oz	340	n	Apr 2013	599
	Panasonic GX7	4.8 in	2.8 in	2.2 in	14.2 oz	350	n	Aug 2013	999
	Panasonic GX1	4.6 in	2.7 in	1.5 in	11.2 oz	320	n	Nov 2011	699
	Panasonic GH2	4.9 in	3.5 in	3.0 in	15.6 oz	330	n	Sep 2010	899
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement.

Camera Model
Canon M50
Panasonic GM1
Canon SL3
Canon G5 X Mark II
Canon M6 Mark II
Canon T7
Canon M6
Canon M100
Canon SL2
Canon T7i
Canon M5
Canon M3
Panasonic GM5
Panasonic G6
Panasonic GX7
Panasonic GX1
Panasonic GH2

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The GM1 was somewhat cheaper (by 4 percent) than the M50 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon M50 features an APS-C sensor and the Panasonic GM1 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the GM1 is 32 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 2.0. The sensor in the M50 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the GM1 offers a 4:3 aspect.

With 24MP, the M50 offers a higher resolution than the GM1 (15.8MP), but the M50 has marginally smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.72μm versus 3.77μm for the GM1). However, the M50 is a much more recent model (by 4 years and 4 months) than the GM1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels.

The resolution advantage of the Canon M50 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the M50 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Panasonic GM1 are 23 x 17.2 inches or 58.3 x 43.8 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.7 x 35 cm for very good quality, and 15.3 x 11.5 inches or 38.9 x 29.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

The M50 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS M50 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 are ISO 200 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 125-25600.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

	Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
	Canon M50	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/24p	..	..	..	..
	Panasonic GM1	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60i	22.3	11.7	660	66
	Canon SL3	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/25p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G5 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon M6 Mark II	APS-C	32.3	6960	4640	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon T7	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon M6	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon M100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.5	12.9	1272	78
	Canon SL2	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.4	1041	79
	Canon T7i	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon M5	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.4	12.4	1262	77
	Canon M3	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.8	11.8	1169	72
	Panasonic GM5	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60p	22.1	11.7	721	66
	Panasonic G6	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	21.3	11.5	639	61
	Panasonic GX7	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60p	22.6	12.2	718	70
	Panasonic GX1	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60p	20.8	10.6	703	55
	Panasonic GH2	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60i	21.2	11.3	655	60

Camera Model
Canon M50
Panasonic GM1
Canon SL3
Canon G5 X Mark II
Canon M6 Mark II
Canon T7
Canon M6
Canon M100
Canon SL2
Canon T7i
Canon M5
Canon M3
Panasonic GM5
Panasonic G6
Panasonic GX7
Panasonic GX1
Panasonic GH2

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the M50 provides a higher video resolution than the GM1. It can shoot video footage at 4K/24p, while the Panasonic is limited to 1080/60i.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the M50 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the GM1 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon M50 and Panasonic GM1 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

	Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
	Canon M50	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	10.0	Y	n
	Panasonic GM1	none	n	3.0	1036	fixed	Y	1/500s	5.0	Y	n
	Canon SL3	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
	Canon G5 X Mark II	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	30	Y	Y
	Canon M6 Mark II	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	14.0	Y	n
	Canon T7	optical	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
	Canon M6	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	n
	Canon M100	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.1	Y	n
	Canon SL2	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
	Canon T7i	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
	Canon M5	2360	n	3.2	1620	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	n
	Canon M3	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.2	Y	n
	Panasonic GM5	1166	n	3.0	921	fixed	Y	1/500s	5.8	n	n
	Panasonic G6	1440	n	3.0	1036	swivel	Y	1/4000s	7.0	Y	n
	Panasonic GX7	2760	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/8000s	5.0	Y	Y
	Panasonic GX1	optional	n	3.0	460	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.2	Y	n
	Panasonic GH2	1534	n	3.0	460	swivel	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n

Camera Model
Canon M50
Panasonic GM1
Canon SL3
Canon G5 X Mark II
Canon M6 Mark II
Canon T7
Canon M6
Canon M100
Canon SL2
Canon T7i
Canon M5
Canon M3
Panasonic GM5
Panasonic G6
Panasonic GX7
Panasonic GX1
Panasonic GH2

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the GM1 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Panasonic GM1 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the M50 and the GM1 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS M50 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

	Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
	Canon M50	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Panasonic GM1	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Canon SL3	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Canon G5 X Mark II	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
	Canon M6 Mark II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Canon T7	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon M6	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon M100	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon SL2	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon T7i	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon M5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon M3	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Panasonic GM5	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Panasonic G6	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Panasonic GX7	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Panasonic GX1	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Panasonic GH2	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

Camera Model
Canon M50
Panasonic GM1
Canon SL3
Canon G5 X Mark II
Canon M6 Mark II
Canon T7
Canon M6
Canon M100
Canon SL2
Canon T7i
Canon M5
Canon M3
Panasonic GM5
Panasonic G6
Panasonic GX7
Panasonic GX1
Panasonic GH2

It is notable that the M50 has a hotshoe, while the GM1 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

The M50 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon. In contrast, the GM1 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the GM1 was succeeded by the Panasonic GM5. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Panasonic websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon M50 better than the Panasonic GM1 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Canon EOS M50:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 15.8MP) with a 26% higher linear resolution.
• Better image quality: Features a larger and more technologically advanced imaging sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/24p vs 1080/60i).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/500s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More modern: Reflects 4 years and 4 months of technical progress since the GM1 launch.

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1:

• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (99x55mm vs 116x88mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 186g or 48 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in October 2013).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the M50 is the clear winner of the match-up (17 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon M50 and the Panasonic GM1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the M50 or the GM1 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	camera   labs	dp review	ephoto   zine	imaging resource	photography   blog	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon M50	+	79/100	..	4/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	779
	Panasonic GM1	+	78/100	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	749
	Canon SL3	o	79/100	4/5	..	4/5	Apr 2019	599
	Canon G5 X Mark II	+	82/100	..	..	4/5	Jul 2019	899
	Canon M6 Mark II	+	85/100	4/5	..	4/5	Aug 2019	849
	Canon T7	o	..	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	Feb 2018	449
	Canon M6	..	80/100	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2017	779
	Canon M100	+	..	4/5	..	3.5/5	Aug 2017	499
	Canon SL2	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2017	549
	Canon T7i	..	80/100	4.5/5	4/5	4/5	Feb 2017	749
	Canon M5	+	82/100	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2016	979
	Canon M3	o	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2015	679
	Panasonic GM5	+	77/100	5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	749
	Panasonic G6	+ +	..	5/5	..	4.5/5	Apr 2013	599
	Panasonic GX7	+	79/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Aug 2013	999
	Panasonic GX1	+	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Nov 2011	699
	Panasonic GH2	+ +	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2010	899
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Camera Model
Canon M50
Panasonic GM1
Canon SL3
Canon G5 X Mark II
Canon M6 Mark II
Canon T7
Canon M6
Canon M100
Canon SL2
Canon T7i
Canon M5
Canon M3
Panasonic GM5
Panasonic G6
Panasonic GX7
Panasonic GX1
Panasonic GH2

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

Specifications: Canon M50 vs Panasonic GM1

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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