Panasonic GH4 has a
16.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine IX processor. On the other hand, Canon S100 has a
12.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic 5 processor.
Below you can see the GH4 and S100 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic GH4 and Canon S100 Cameras
As seen above, Panasonic GH4 has a 5.4x Larger sensor area than Canon S100. 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.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Panasonic GH4 and Canon S100 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, GH4 has scored 74, 24 points higher than S100.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Panasonic GH4
74
23.2 bits
12.8 Evs
791 ISO
Canon S100
50
20.7 bits
11.6 Evs
153 ISO
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 GH4
or the
Canon S100 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(Four Thirds versus 1/1.7-inch),
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.
