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Panasonic GM1 vs Panasonic GM5 Comparison

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Panasonic GM1

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

Panasonic GM1
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Panasonic GM5

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

Panasonic GM5
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Panasonic GM1 vs Panasonic GM5 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the GM1 and the GM5, two Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by Panasonic. Panasonic GM1 was introduced to the market in December 2013 and Panasonic GM5 was launched in September 2014. There is only 9 months difference between GM1 and GM5 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

GM1 and GM5 are members of Panasonic's GM series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Panasonic GM Series History
Model Release Date Sensor Dimensions Weight
Panasonic GM5
2014 16.0MP - Four Thirds 99 x 60 x 36mm 211g
Panasonic GM1
2013 16.0MP - Four Thirds 99 x 55 x 30mm 204g

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Panasonic GM1 and Panasonic GM5 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic GM1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-12-19
  • 16MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 5.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 204g. 99 x 55 x 30 mm

Panasonic GM5 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-09-15
  • 16MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 25600 ( expands to 100)
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1166k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 5.8fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 211g. 99 x 60 x 36 mm
  • Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Compare

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Panasonic GM1 and Panasonic GM5 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
LCD Resolution
1.036k dots vs 921k dots 12% higher resolution screen
Battery Life
230 shots vs 220 shots 10 more frames with a single charge
Weight
204 g vs 211 g 7 g lighter
Color Depth
22.3 vs 22.1 higher color depth
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
CHECK GM1 PRICE


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
Continuous Shooting
5.8fps vs 5.0fps 0.8 fps faster
Low Light ISO
721 vs 660 better High ISO performance
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
CHECK GM5 PRICE

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
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
Max Continuous Shooting
5.0fps vs 5.8fps Fast shooting speeds
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
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 DMC-GM1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Panasonic GM1 vs Panasonic GM5: 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 GM1 and Panasonic GM5 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic GM1 has external dimensions of 99 x 55 x 30 mm (3.88 x 2.16 x 1.2″) and weighs 204 g (0.45 lb / 7.20 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic GM5 has external dimensions of 99 x 60 x 36 mm (3.9 x 2.36 x 1.42″) and weighs 211 g (0.47 lb / 7.44 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Panasonic GM1 and the Panasonic GM5. Panasonic GM1 has the same height with Panasonic GM5. On the other hand, with a width of 55mm, it is 5 narrower and also with a thickness of 30mm, it is 6mm thinner than Panasonic GM5.

Panasonic GM1 vs Panasonic GM5 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Panasonic GM1 and the Panasonic GM5 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Panasonic GM1 and Panasonic GM5.

Panasonic GM1 vs Panasonic GM5 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Panasonic GM1 and the Panasonic GM5 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic GM1 and Panasonic GM5.
Panasonic GM1 vs Panasonic GM5 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Panasonic GM1 and the the Panasonic GM5 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic GM1 is 7g lighter than the Panasonic GM5 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

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 GM1 and Panasonic GM5 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

GM1
GM5
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

GM1
GM5
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic GM1 and Panasonic GM5's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.


Panasonic GM1 vs Panasonic GM5: Sensor Comparison

Both Panasonic GM1 and Panasonic GM5 have Four Thirds sized 16.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the GM1 and GM5 sensor size comparison.

Panasonic GM1 vs Panasonic GM5 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic GM1 and Panasonic GM5 Cameras


Panasonic GM1 and Panasonic GM5 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.

DxOMark Sensor Scores
At Camera Decision, we also look at Dxo Mark sensors when available as we think it is a good indicator of image quality.
Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Panasonic GM1 66 22.3 bits 11.7 Evs 660 ISO
Panasonic GM5 66 22.1 bits 11.7 Evs 721 ISO
Panasonic GM1 vs Panasonic GM5 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 GM1 and Panasonic GM5 have the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount and currently there are 121 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 34 lenses with Image stabilization for Micro Four Thirds mount.

Lens Type # of Panasonic GM1 Lenses # of Panasonic GM5 Lenses
Standard Zoom 18 18
Standard Prime 15 15
Wideangle Zoom 6 6
Wideangle Prime 32 32
Telephoto Zoom 19 19
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 121 121

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

Popular Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for the GM1 and the GM5
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 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
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ Lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ
FourThirds 91gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Panasonic GM1 and Panasonic GM5 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic GM1 and Panasonic GM5 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 GM1 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic GM5 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Panasonic GM1 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic GM5 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Panasonic GM1 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic GM5 for Sports Photography

GOOD
23 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/500s
Poor Battery Life: 230 shots
Read the details
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
23 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.8fps
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/500s
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Read the details

Panasonic GM1 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic GM5 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
204g
Medium size Body
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
211g
Medium size Body
Read the details

Panasonic GM1 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic GM5 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Panasonic GM1 vs Panasonic GM5: 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 GM1 and Panasonic GM5, 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 GM1 and Panasonic GM5 scores compare:

Panasonic GM1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #76 out of 134 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #366 out of 1259 in all Cameras
Panasonic GM5
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #47 out of 134 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #271 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Panasonic GM5 has a higher Overall Score than the Panasonic GM1 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Panasonic GM1
Panasonic GM1
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Panasonic GM5
Panasonic GM5
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Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GM1 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Announced 2013-12-19 2014-09-15
Body Type Rangefinder-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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4592 x 3448 4592 x 3448
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 25,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 200 ISO 200 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 23 23
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of Available Lenses 121 121
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,036k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 1,166k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.46x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/500s 1/500s
Max Electronic Shutter 1/16000s 1/16000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.00 m no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync 1/50s n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 5.8 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 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 204g 211g
Dimensions 99 x 55 x 30mm 99 x 60 x 36mm
Battery Life 230 shots 220 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 66 66
DxO Color Depth 22.3 22.1
DxO Dynamic Range 11.7 11.7
DxO Low Light ISO 660 721
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