Both Panasonic FX78 and Panasonic GH1 have 12.0 MP resolution sensors but Panasonic FX78's sensor is 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) and Panasonic GH1's sensor is Four Thirds (18.89 x 14.48 mm ).
Since Panasonic GH1's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Panasonic FX78.
Below you can see the FX78 and GH1 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic FX78 and Panasonic GH1 Cameras
As seen above, Panasonic GH1 has a 9.9x Larger sensor area than Panasonic FX78. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Panasonic FX78
or the
Panasonic GH1 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(1/2.3-inch versus Four Thirds),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
