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Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 and the Sony Alpha SLT-A99 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in March 2009 and September 2012. The GH1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the A99 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (GH1) and a full frame (A99) sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 12 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 24 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Panasonic GH1
versus
Sony A99
Panasonic GH1   Sony A99
Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
Micro Four Thirds lenses Sony A mount lenses
12 MP – Four Thirds sensor 24 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/24p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-1,600 (100 - 3,200) ISO 100-25,600
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots) Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)
3.0" LCD – 460k dots 3.0" LCD – 1229k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive) Fully flexible screen (no touchscreen)
3 shutter flaps per second 6 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
300 shots per battery charge500 shots per battery charge
124 x 90 x 45 mm, 385 g 147 x 111 x 78 mm, 812 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 and the Sony Alpha SLT-A99? 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 physical size and weight of the Panasonic GH1 and the Sony A99 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The GH1 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the A99 is only available in black.

Size Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99
Compare GH1 versus A99 top
Comparison GH1 or A99 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A99 is considerably larger (46 percent) than the Panasonic GH1. Moreover, the A99 is substantially heavier (111 percent) than the GH1. It is noteworthy in this context that the A99 is splash and dust-proof, while the GH1 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

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 GH1 gets 300 shots out of its Panasonic DMW-BLB13 battery, while the A99 can take 500 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FM500H power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. 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 GH1 124 mm 90 mm 45 mm 385 g 300 n Mar 2009 899ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A99 147 mm 111 mm 78 mm 812 g 500 Y Sep 2012 2,799ebay.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.
 
Panasonic LX100 115 mm 66 mm 55 mm 393 g 300 n Sep 2014 899ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic GX1 116 mm 68 mm 39 mm 318 g 320 n Nov 2011 699ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic G10 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 388 g 380 n Mar 2010 499ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic G2 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 428 g 360 n Mar 2010 599ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GF2 113 mm 68 mm 33 mm 310 g 300 n Nov 2010 549ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH2 124 mm 90 mm 76 mm 442 g 330 n Sep 2010 899ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GF1 119 mm 71 mm 36 mm 385 g 380 n Sep 2009 749ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic G1 124 mm 84 mm 45 mm 360 g 410 n Sep 2008 599ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A9 II 129 mm 96 mm 76 mm 678 g 690 Y Oct 2019 4,499 amazon.com
14.
 
Sony A99 II 143 mm 104 mm 76 mm 849 g 490 Y Sep 2016 3,199ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A77 143 mm 104 mm 81 mm 732 g 470 Y Aug 2011 1,399ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A850 156 mm 117 mm 82 mm 895 g 880 Y Aug 2009 1,999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A900 156 mm 117 mm 82 mm 895 g 880 Y Sep 2008 2,999ebay.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 obviously take relative prices into account. 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 GH1 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 68 percent) than the A99, which puts it into a different market segment. 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 imaging sensor is a crucial determinant 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. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Panasonic GH1 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony A99 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A99 is 279 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.0. The sensor in the GH1 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the A99 offers a 3:2 aspect.

Panasonic GH1 and Sony A99 sensor measures

With 24MP, the A99 offers a higher resolution than the GH1 (12MP), but the A99 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.96μm versus 4.33μm for the GH1) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A99 is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 6 months) than the GH1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A99 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A99 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 GH1 are 20 x 15 inches or 50.8 x 38.1 cm for good quality, 16 x 12 inches or 40.6 x 30.5 cm for very good quality, and 13.3 x 10 inches or 33.9 x 25.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 100-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha SLT-A99 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-25600.

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.

GH1 versus A99 MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the A99 offers substantially better image quality than the GH1 (overall score 25 points higher). The advantage is based on 3.4 bits higher color depth, 2.4 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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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 GH1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/24p21.611.677264
2.
 
Sony A99 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p25.014.0155589
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.
 
Panasonic LX100 Four Thirds 12.7 4112 30884K/30p22.312.555367
6.
 
Panasonic GX1 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p20.810.670355
7.
 
Panasonic G10 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.141152
8.
 
Panasonic G2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.349353
9.
 
Panasonic GF2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i21.210.350654
10.
 
Panasonic GH2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i21.211.365560
11.
 
Panasonic GF1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.351354
12.
 
Panasonic G1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000none21.110.346353
13.
 
Sony A9 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.0343493
14.
 
Sony A99 II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p25.413.4231792
15.
 
Sony A77 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.280178
16.
 
Sony A850 Full Frame 24.4 6048 4032none23.812.2141579
17.
 
Sony A900 Full Frame 24.4 6048 4032none23.712.3143179
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the A99 provides a faster frame rate than the GH1. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the Panasonic is limited to 1080/24p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the A99 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the GH1 (2359k vs 1440k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Panasonic GH1 and Sony A99 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 GH11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Sony A992359 Y3.0 / 1229 full-flex n 1/8000s 6.0/s n Y
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.
 
Panasonic LX1002764 n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 11.0/s n Y
6.
 
Panasonic GX1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
7.
 
Panasonic G10202 n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
8.
 
Panasonic G21440 n3.0 / 460 swivel Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
9.
 
Panasonic GF2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
10.
 
Panasonic GH21534 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Panasonic GF1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
12.
 
Panasonic G11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Sony A9 II3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
14.
 
Sony A99 II2400 Y3.0 / 1229 full-flex n 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
15.
 
Sony A772359 Y3.0 / 921 full-flex n 1/8000s 12.0/s Y Y
16.
 
Sony A850optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 3.0/s n Y
17.
 
Sony A900optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The GH1 has one, while the A99 does not. While the built-in flash of the GH1 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The GH1 writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the A99 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The A99 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the GH1 only has one slot. The A99 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the GH1 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD 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-GH1 and Sony Alpha SLT-A99 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 GH1Ystereo / -Y-mini2.0---
2.
 
Sony A99Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0---
3.
 
Olympus E-P1Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
4.
 
Olympus E-P2Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
5.
 
Panasonic LX100Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
6.
 
Panasonic GX1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
7.
 
Panasonic G10Ymono / ---mini2.0---
8.
 
Panasonic G2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
9.
 
Panasonic GF2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Panasonic GH2Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic GF1Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic G1Y- / ---mini2.0---
13.
 
Sony A9 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
14.
 
Sony A99 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YYY
15.
 
Sony A77Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
16.
 
Sony A850Y- / ---mini2.0---
17.
 
Sony A900Y- / ---mini2.0---
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It is notable that the A99 has a headphone jack, which makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process. The GH1 lacks such a headphone port.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Sony A99 (unlike the GH1) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the A99 has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

Both the GH1 and the A99 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The GH1 was replaced by the Panasonic GH2, while the A99 was followed by the Sony A99. Further information on the features and operation of the GH1 and A99 can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic GH1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A99 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Panasonic GH1 better than the Sony A99 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1:

  • More compact: Is smaller (124x90mm vs 147x111mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 427g or 53 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (68 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in March 2009).

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Advantages of the Sony Alpha SLT-A99:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 12MP), which boosts linear resolution by 44%.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (25 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (3.4 bits more color depth).
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (2.4 EV of extra DR).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/24p).
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (2359k vs 1440k dots).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.70x).
  • Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1229k vs 460k dots).
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (500 versus 300) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More modern: Reflects 3 years and 6 months of technical progress since the GH1 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A99 is the clear winner of the contest (21 : 6 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. 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.

GH1 06:21 A99

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic GH1 and the Sony A99 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings 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 GH1 or the A99. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear 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 GH1..+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 899ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A995/5....84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 2,799ebay.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.
 
Panasonic LX1005/5+ +..85/1005/55/5 Sep 2014 899ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic GX13/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2011 699ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic G103/5....70/1004/54/5 Mar 2010 499ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic G2......72/1004/54.5/5 Mar 2010 599ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GF23/582/100..70/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2010 549ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH25/5+ +..79/1004.5/55/5 Sep 2010 899ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GF1..85/100..69/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 749ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic G1..+ +..70/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2008 599ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A9 II....5/590/1005/55/5 Oct 2019 4,499 amazon.com
14.
 
Sony A99 II....4.5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2016 3,199ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A775/591/100..81/100..5/5 Aug 2011 1,399ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A8503/5....75/100..4.5/5 Aug 2009 1,999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A900..+ +..+ +4.5/55/5 Sep 2008 2,999ebay.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 were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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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 a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Panasonic GH1 vs Sony A99

    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 GH1 Sony A99
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Sony A mount lenses
    Launch Date March 2009 September 2012
    Launch Price USD 899 USD 2,799
    Sensor Specs Panasonic GH1 Sony A99
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 35.8 x 23.8 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 852.04 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 43 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4000 x 3000 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.33 μm 5.96 μm
    Pixel Density 5.34 MP/cm2 2.82 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/24p Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 3,200 ISO 50 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor Venus HD BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 64 89
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.6 25.0
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.6 14.0
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 772 1555
    Screen Specs Panasonic GH1 Sony A99
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x 0.71x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots 2359k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 460k dots 1229k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fully flexible screen
    Shooting Specs Panasonic GH1 Sony A99
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 6 shutter flaps/s
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDHC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support no UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Panasonic GH1 Sony A99
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Geotagging no internal GPS GPS built-in
    Body Specs Panasonic GH1 Sony A99
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Panasonic DMW-BLB13 Sony NP-FM500H
    Battery Life (CIPA)300 shots per charge500 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 124 x 90 x 45 mm
    (4.9 x 3.5 x 1.8 in)
    147 x 111 x 78 mm
    (5.8 x 4.4 x 3.1 in)
    Camera Weight 385 g (13.6 oz) 812 g (28.6 oz)
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