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Panasonic G9 vs Panasonic GX1 Comparison

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Panasonic G9

20 MP | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) CMOS Sensor

Panasonic G9
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Panasonic GX1

16 MP | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) CMOS Sensor

Panasonic GX1
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Panasonic G9 vs Panasonic GX1 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing G9 and GX1, two Mirrorless cameras by Panasonic. Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 is a Advanced Mirrorless class camera and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 is a Entry-Level Mirrorless class camera.

Panasonic G9 was introduced to the market in November 2017 and Panasonic GX1 was launched in February 2012. As you can see, GX1 is 5 years older than G9. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic G9 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-11-08
  • 20MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 200 - 25600 ( expands to 100)
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 3680k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 20.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 180fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 658g. 137 x 97 x 92 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body

Panasonic GX1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-02-14
  • 16MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 4.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 318g. 116 x 68 x 39 mm

Panasonic GX1 was replaced by Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 vs Panasonic Lumix DC-G9

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 16 MP 25% more pixels
Max ISO
25.600 vs 12.800 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
225 vs 23 202 more focus points
LCD Resolution
1.040k dots vs 460k dots 126% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
20.0fps vs 4.0fps 16 fps faster
Battery Life
400 shots vs 300 shots 100 more frames with a single charge
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing Range
±5 EV vs ±2 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Full-size HDMI Port
Yes vs No Use standard HDMI cables without adapters
Selfie & Vlogger LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes (80.0MP) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
4K Photo Mode
Yes vs No Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
6K Photo Mode
Yes vs No Extract 18MP photos from Video footage
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Focus Bracketing
Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Focus Stacking
Yes vs No Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Post Focus Mode
Yes vs No Change focus point after taking a shot
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
USB Version
USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
Animal Eye AF Tracking
Yes vs No Easily lock and track focus on animals
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam
CHECK G9 PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 over Panasonic Lumix DC-G9
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Weight
318 g vs 658 g 340 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area
14.21µm2 vs 11.16µm2 27% larger pixel area
CHECK GX1 PRICE

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Dual-axis Electronic Level
Yes vs Yes Level the camera easily in two axis
Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Panasonic G9 vs Panasonic GX1: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic G9 has external dimensions of 137 x 97 x 92 mm (5.39 x 3.82 x 3.62″) and weighs 658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic GX1 has external dimensions of 116 x 68 x 39 mm (4.57 x 2.68 x 1.54″) and weighs 318 g (0.70 lb / 11.22 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Panasonic G9 and the Panasonic GX1. Panasonic GX1 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 21mm narrower, 29mm shorter and 53mm thinner than Panasonic G9.

Panasonic G9 vs Panasonic GX1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Panasonic G9 and the Panasonic GX1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1.

Panasonic G9 vs Panasonic GX1 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Panasonic G9 and the Panasonic GX1 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1.
Panasonic G9 vs Panasonic GX1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Panasonic G9 and the Panasonic GX1 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic GX1 is significantly lighter (340g ) than the Panasonic G9 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1 have the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount and Four Thirds sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

G9
GX1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

G9
GX1
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

With its weather-sealed body, we believe that the G9 has a big advantage over the GX1 which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

On the other hand, Panasonic G9 sports a Fully Articulated screen which you can change the angle and position of the screen almost freely, making it possible to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels, and especially very useful for shooting selfies and video. Panasonic GX1's LCD screen is a fixed type which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to G9.


Panasonic G9 vs Panasonic GX1: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic G9 has a 20.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic GX1 has a 16.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine FHD processor.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Panasonic G9's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moiré occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the G9 and GX1 sensor size comparison.

Panasonic G9 vs Panasonic GX1 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1 Cameras


Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Panasonic GX1 has 27% larger pixel area (14.21µm2 vs 11.16µm2) compared to Panasonic G9, it has larger pixel area to collect light hence potential to have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Panasonic G9 vs Panasonic GX1 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1 have the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount and currently there are 123 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Panasonic G9 has a big advantage in this regard because it has a sensor based image stabilization (IS) which means that all the lenses mounted to this body will be stabilized. G9's built-in Image stabilization system is effective for compensating vibration up to 6.5-stops according to CIPA standards.
On the other hand, Panasonic GX1 doesn't have this feature so you have to buy a lens with optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 36 lenses for Micro Four Thirds mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type # of Panasonic G9 Lenses # of Panasonic GX1 Lenses
Standard Zoom 18 18
Standard Prime 15 15
Wideangle Zoom 6 6
Wideangle Prime 32 32
Telephoto Zoom 21 21
Telephoto Prime 11 11
SuperZoom 8 8
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 5 5
Macro Prime 5 5
Perspective Control Prime n/a n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 1
TOTAL 123 123

Here are some of the most popular Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for the G9 and the GX1
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
OM System 40-150mm F4.0 PRO Lens OM System 40-150mm F4.0 PRO
FourThirds 382gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH Lens Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH
FourThirds 125gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 210gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS Lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS
FourThirds 1120gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 655gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 320gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 II ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 II ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 985gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 985gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic G9 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Panasonic GX1 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Check the Best Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Panasonic G9 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Panasonic GX1 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Check the Best Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Street Photography
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Optional External Viewfinder
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Panasonic G9 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Panasonic GX1 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 20.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
225 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Read the details

Check the Best Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Sports Photography
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
23 Focus Points
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Panasonic G9 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Panasonic GX1 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
658g
Body Thickness 92mm
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
318g
Read the details

Panasonic G9 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic GX1 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Check the Best Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Panasonic G9 vs Panasonic GX1: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic G9 and Panasonic GX1 scores compare:

Panasonic G9
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #58 out of 117 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #89 out of 1275 in all Cameras
Panasonic GX1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #96 out of 140 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #414 out of 1275 in all Cameras

Panasonic G9 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Panasonic GX1 in all criteria except one: Portability. Panasonic GX1 is significantly smaller than Panasonic G9. If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Panasonic GX1. Otherwise, Panasonic G9 is the better camera overall.

Panasonic G9
Panasonic G9
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Panasonic GX1
Panasonic GX1
CHECK PRICE
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Panasonic GX1 vs Panasonic G9 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Announced 2017-11-08 2012-02-14
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Dimensions 17.3 x 13 mm 17.3 x 13 mm
Area 224.90mm2 224.90mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 5184 x 3888 4592 x 3448
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 200 ISO 160 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 100 ISO -
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 225 23
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of Available Lenses 123 123
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder Resolution 3,680k dots no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100% n/a
Viewfinder Magnification 0.83x n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/4000s
Max Electronic Shutter 1/32000s n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range no built-in flash 7.60 m
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/160s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 20.0 fps 4.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 658g 318g
Dimensions 137 x 97 x 92mm 116 x 68 x 39mm
Battery Life 400 shots 300 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 55
DxO Color Depth not tested 20.8
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 10.6
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 703
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