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Panasonic GF1 vs G1

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in September 2009 and September 2008. Both the GF1 and the G1 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 12 megapixels.

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

Headline Specifications
Panasonic GF1
versus
Panasonic G1
Panasonic GF1   Panasonic G1
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
12 MP – Four Thirds sensor 12 MP – Four Thirds sensor
720/30p Video no Video
ISO 100-3,200 ISO 100-1,600 (100 - 3,200)
Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0" LCD – 460k dots 3.0" LCD – 460k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
380 shots per battery charge410 shots per battery charge
119 x 71 x 36 mm, 385 g 124 x 84 x 45 mm, 360 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1? 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.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Panasonic GF1 and the Panasonic G1. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic G1
Compare GF1 versus G1 top
Comparison GF1 or G1 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic G1 is notably larger (23 percent) than the Panasonic GF1. However, the G1 is markedly lighter (6 percent) than the GF1. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the GF1 nor the G1 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. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

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, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic GF1 119 mm 71 mm 36 mm 385 g 380 n Sep 2009 749ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic G1 124 mm 84 mm 45 mm 360 g 410 n Sep 2008 599ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-P1 121 mm 70 mm 36 mm 355 g 300 n Jun 2009 799ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-P2 121 mm 70 mm 36 mm 355 g 300 n Nov 2009 799ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-410 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Mar 2007 699ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic LX100 115 mm 66 mm 55 mm 393 g 300 n Sep 2014 899ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GX1 116 mm 68 mm 39 mm 318 g 320 n Nov 2011 699ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic G10 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 388 g 380 n Mar 2010 499ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic G2 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 428 g 360 n Mar 2010 599ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GF2 113 mm 68 mm 33 mm 310 g 300 n Nov 2010 549ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GH2 124 mm 90 mm 76 mm 442 g 330 n Sep 2010 899ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GH1 124 mm 90 mm 45 mm 385 g 300 n Mar 2009 899ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic L10 135 mm 96 mm 78 mm 556 g 450 n Aug 2007 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The G1 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 20 percent) than the GF1, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Panasonic GF1 and Panasonic G1 sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 12 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the GF1 and the G1 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the GF1 is a somewhat more recent model (by 11 months) than the G1, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 are ISO 100 to ISO 1600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-3200.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

GF1 versus G1 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Panasonic GF1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.351354
2.
 
Panasonic G1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000none21.110.346353
3.
 
Olympus E-P1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.410.453655
4.
 
Olympus E-P2 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.510.450556
5.
 
Olympus E-410 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.110.049451
6.
 
Panasonic LX100 Four Thirds 12.7 4112 30884K/30p22.312.555367
7.
 
Panasonic GX1 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p20.810.670355
8.
 
Panasonic G10 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.141152
9.
 
Panasonic G2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.349353
10.
 
Panasonic GF2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i21.210.350654
11.
 
Panasonic GH2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i21.211.365560
12.
 
Panasonic GH1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/24p21.611.677264
13.
 
Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.310.842955
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The GF1 indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the G1 does not. The highest resolution format that the GF1 can use is 720/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the G1 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the GF1 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the GF1 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the DMW-LVF1. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Panasonic GF1 and Panasonic G1 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Panasonic GF1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Panasonic G11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
3.
 
Olympus E-P1none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n Y
4.
 
Olympus E-P2optional n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n Y
5.
 
Olympus E-410optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Panasonic LX1002764 n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 11.0/s n Y
7.
 
Panasonic GX1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
8.
 
Panasonic G10202 n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
9.
 
Panasonic G21440 n3.0 / 460 swivel Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
10.
 
Panasonic GF2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
11.
 
Panasonic GH21534 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
12.
 
Panasonic GH11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Panasonic L10optical n2.5 / 207 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The G1 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the GF1 does not have a selfie-screen.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the GF1 and the G1 write their files to SDHC cards.

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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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Panasonic GF1Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Panasonic G1Y- / ---mini2.0---
3.
 
Olympus E-P1Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
4.
 
Olympus E-P2Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
5.
 
Olympus E-410Y- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Panasonic LX100Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
7.
 
Panasonic GX1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Panasonic G10Ymono / ---mini2.0---
9.
 
Panasonic G2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Panasonic GF2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic GH2Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic GH1Ystereo / -Y-mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic L10Y- / ----2.0---
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Both the GF1 and the G1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The G1 was replaced by the Panasonic G2, while the GF1 was followed by the Panasonic DMC-GF2. Further information on the features and operation of the GF1 and G1 can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic GF1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic G1 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Panasonic GF1 and the Panasonic G1? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1:

  • Broader imaging potential: Can record not only still images but also 720/30p movies.
  • More compact: Is smaller (119x71mm vs 124x84mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 11 months after the G1).


Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1:

  • 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.
  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (20 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2008).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G1 emerges as the winner of the match-up (5 : 3 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 wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

GF1 03:05 G1

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic GF1 and the Panasonic G1 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 partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the GF1 or the G1. 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 where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic GF1..85/100..69/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 749ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic G1..+ +..70/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2008 599ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-P1..+..66/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2009 799ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-P23/5+..69/1004/54.5/5 Nov 2009 799ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-410..86/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2007 699ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic LX1005/5+ +..85/1005/55/5 Sep 2014 899ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GX13/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2011 699ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic G103/5....70/1004/54/5 Mar 2010 499ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic G2......72/1004/54.5/5 Mar 2010 599ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GF23/582/100..70/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2010 549ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GH25/5+ +..79/1004.5/55/5 Sep 2010 899ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GH1..+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 899ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic L10..85/100..+3.5/54/5 Aug 2007 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic G1

    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.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Panasonic GF1 Panasonic G1
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date September 2009 September 2008
    Launch Price USD 749 USD 599
    Sensor Specs Panasonic GF1 Panasonic G1
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4000 x 3000 pixels 4000 x 3000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.33 μm 4.33 μm
    Pixel Density 5.34 MP/cm2 5.34 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 720/30p Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 3,200 ISO 100 - 1,600 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 100 - 3,200 ISO
    Image Processor Venus HD Venus HD
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 54 53
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.2 21.1
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.3 10.3
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 513 463
    Screen Specs Panasonic GF1 Panasonic G1
    Viewfinder Type Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 460k dots 460k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Swivel screen
    Shooting Specs Panasonic GF1 Panasonic G1
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDHC cards SDHC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Panasonic GF1 Panasonic G1
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Panasonic GF1 Panasonic G1
    Battery Type Panasonic DMW-BLB13 Panasonic DMW-BLB13
    Battery Life (CIPA)380 shots per charge410 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 119 x 71 x 36 mm
    (4.7 x 2.8 x 1.4 in)
    124 x 84 x 45 mm
    (4.9 x 3.3 x 1.8 in)
    Camera Weight 385 g (13.6 oz) 360 g (12.7 oz)
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