Panasonic GH1 vs Sony RX100 III

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in March 2009 and May 2014. The GH1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the RX100 III is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (GH1) and an one-inch (RX100 III) sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 12 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 20 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Panasonic GH1		Sony RX100 III
Mirrorless system camera		Fixed lens compact camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses		24-70mm f/1.8-2.8
12 MP – Four Thirds sensor		20 MP – 1" sensor
1080/24p Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 100-1,600 (100 - 3,200)		ISO 100-12,800 (80 - 25,600)
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0" LCD – 460k dots		3.0" LCD – 1229k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
3 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
300 shots per battery charge		320 shots per battery charge
124 x 90 x 45 mm, 385 g		102 x 58 x 41 mm, 290 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 Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III? 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.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Panasonic GH1 and the Sony RX100 III is provided 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 width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The GH1 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the RX100 III is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony RX100 III is considerably smaller (47 percent) than the Panasonic GH1. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the GH1 nor the RX100 III are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the RX100 III has a lens built in, whereas the GH1 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the GH1 and their specifications in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the GH1 gets 300 shots out of its Panasonic DMW-BLB13 battery, while the RX100 III can take 320 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-BX1 power pack. The power pack in the RX100 III can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. 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.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Panasonic GH1	124 mm	90 mm	45 mm	385 g	300	n	Mar 2009	US$ 899	ebay.com
2.		Sony RX100 III	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	290 g	320	n	May 2014	US$ 799	ebay.com
3.		Canon G7 X	103 mm	60 mm	40 mm	304 g	210	n	Sep 2014	US$ 699	ebay.com
4.		Olympus E-P1	121 mm	70 mm	36 mm	355 g	300	n	Jun 2009	US$ 799	ebay.com
5.		Olympus E-P2	121 mm	70 mm	36 mm	355 g	300	n	Nov 2009	US$ 799	ebay.com
6.		Panasonic G1	124 mm	84 mm	45 mm	360 g	410	n	Sep 2008	US$ 599	ebay.com
7.		Panasonic G2	124 mm	84 mm	74 mm	428 g	360	n	Mar 2010	US$ 599	ebay.com
8.		Panasonic G10	124 mm	84 mm	74 mm	388 g	380	n	Mar 2010	US$ 499	ebay.com
9.		Panasonic GF1	119 mm	71 mm	36 mm	385 g	380	n	Sep 2009	US$ 749	ebay.com
10.		Panasonic GF2	113 mm	68 mm	33 mm	310 g	300	n	Nov 2010	US$ 549	ebay.com
11.		Panasonic GH2	124 mm	90 mm	76 mm	442 g	330	n	Sep 2010	US$ 899	ebay.com
12.		Panasonic GX1	116 mm	68 mm	39 mm	318 g	320	n	Nov 2011	US$ 699	ebay.com
13.		Panasonic LX100	115 mm	66 mm	55 mm	393 g	300	n	Sep 2014	US$ 899	ebay.com
14.		Sony RX100	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	240 g	330	n	Jun 2012	US$ 649	ebay.com
15.		Sony RX100 II	102 mm	58 mm	38 mm	281 g	350	n	Jun 2013	US$ 749	ebay.com
16.		Sony RX100 IV	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	298 g	280	n	Jun 2015	US$ 999	ebay.com
17.		Sony RX100 VII	102 mm	58 mm	43 mm	302 g	260	n	Jul 2019	US$ 1 199	amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The RX100 III was launched at a lower price than the GH1, despite having a lens built in. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors 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. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Panasonic GH1 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony RX100 III an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the RX100 III is 48 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 2.7. The sensor in the GH1 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the RX100 III offers a 3:2 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the RX100 III offers a higher resolution of 20 megapixels, compared with 12 MP of the GH1. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 2.41μm versus 4.33μm for the GH1). However, it should be noted that the RX100 III is much more recent (by 5 years and 2 months) than the GH1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Sony RX100 III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the RX100 III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 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 Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III are ISO 100 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

In terms of underlying technology, the GH1 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the RX100 III uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		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	3000	1080/24p	21.6	11.6	772	64
2.		Sony RX100 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.4	12.3	495	67
3.		Canon G7 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	23.0	12.7	556	71
4.		Olympus E-P1	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.4	10.4	536	55
5.		Olympus E-P2	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.5	10.4	505	56
6.		Panasonic G1	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	none	21.1	10.3	463	53
7.		Panasonic G2	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	720/30p	21.2	10.3	493	53
8.		Panasonic G10	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	720/30p	21.2	10.1	411	52
9.		Panasonic GF1	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	720/30p	21.2	10.3	513	54
10.		Panasonic GF2	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60i	21.2	10.3	506	54
11.		Panasonic GH2	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60i	21.2	11.3	655	60
12.		Panasonic GX1	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60p	20.8	10.6	703	55
13.		Panasonic LX100	Four Thirds	12.7	4112	3088	4K/30p	22.3	12.5	553	67
14.		Sony RX100	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.6	12.4	390	66
15.		Sony RX100 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.5	12.4	483	67
16.		Sony RX100 IV	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.6	591	70
17.		Sony RX100 VII	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	21.8	12.4	418	63

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the RX100 III provides a faster frame rate than the GH1. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the Panasonic is limited to 1080/24p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The GH1 and the RX100 III are similar in the sense that both feature an electronic viewfinder, which is helpful when framing images in bright sunlight. Moreover, their viewfinders offer an identical resolution of 1440k dots. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Panasonic GH1, the Sony RX100 III, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		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 GH1	1440	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
2.		Sony RX100 III	1440	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
3.		Canon G7 X	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	6.5/s	Y	Y
4.		Olympus E-P1	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	Y
5.		Olympus E-P2	optional	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	Y
6.		Panasonic G1	1440	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
7.		Panasonic G2	1440	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	Y	1/4000s	2.6/s	Y	n
8.		Panasonic G10	202	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.6/s	Y	n
9.		Panasonic GF1	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
10.		Panasonic GF2	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	Y	1/4000s	2.6/s	Y	n
11.		Panasonic GH2	1534	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
12.		Panasonic GX1	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.2/s	Y	n
13.		Panasonic LX100	2764	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	11.0/s	n	Y
14.		Sony RX100	none	n	3.0 / 1229	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
15.		Sony RX100 II	optional	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
16.		Sony RX100 IV	2359	n	3.0 / 1228	tilting	n	1/2000s	16.0/s	Y	Y
17.		Sony RX100 VII	2359	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	Y	1/2000s	90.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The GH1 writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the RX100 III uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The RX100 III 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.

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 Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Panasonic GH1	Y	stereo / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Sony RX100 III	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon G7 X	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Olympus E-P1	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Olympus E-P2	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Panasonic G1	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Panasonic G2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Panasonic G10	Y	mono / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Panasonic GF1	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Panasonic GF2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Panasonic GH2	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Panasonic GX1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Panasonic LX100	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
14.		Sony RX100	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Sony RX100 II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Sony RX100 IV	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony RX100 VII	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y

It is notable that the GH1 has a hotshoe, while the RX100 III does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Both the GH1 and the RX100 III have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The GH1 was replaced by the Panasonic GH2, while the RX100 III was followed by the Sony RX100 IV. Further information on the features and operation of the GH1 and RX100 III can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic GH1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony RX100 III Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Panasonic GH1 and the Sony RX100 III? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1:

• Better low-light sensitivity: Requires less light for good images (0.6 stops ISO advantage).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.59x).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Accepts interchangeable lenses, so that lens characteristics can be altered.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in March 2009).

Reasons to prefer the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (20 vs 12MP), which boosts linear resolution by 32%.
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (0.7 EV of extra DR).
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/24p).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1229k vs 460k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the GH1 necessitates an extra lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (102x58mm vs 124x90mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the GH1).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 5 years and 2 months of technical progress since the GH1 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the RX100 III is the clear winner of the contest (15 : 8 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic GH1 and the Sony RX100 III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best Travel-Zoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the GH1 or the RX100 III. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Panasonic GH1	..	+ +	..	72/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2009	US$ 899	ebay.com
2.		Sony RX100 III	5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2014	US$ 799	ebay.com
3.		Canon G7 X	4/5	+ +	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	US$ 699	ebay.com
4.		Olympus E-P1	..	+	..	66/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2009	US$ 799	ebay.com
5.		Olympus E-P2	3/5	+	..	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Nov 2009	US$ 799	ebay.com
6.		Panasonic G1	..	+ +	..	70/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2008	US$ 599	ebay.com
7.		Panasonic G2	..	..	..	72/100	4/5	4.5/5	Mar 2010	US$ 599	ebay.com
8.		Panasonic G10	3/5	..	..	70/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2010	US$ 499	ebay.com
9.		Panasonic GF1	..	85/100	..	69/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2009	US$ 749	ebay.com
10.		Panasonic GF2	3/5	82/100	..	70/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Nov 2010	US$ 549	ebay.com
11.		Panasonic GH2	5/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2010	US$ 899	ebay.com
12.		Panasonic GX1	3/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Nov 2011	US$ 699	ebay.com
13.		Panasonic LX100	5/5	+ +	..	85/100	5/5	5/5	Sep 2014	US$ 899	ebay.com
14.		Sony RX100	5/5	+ +	..	78/100	4/5	5/5	Jun 2012	US$ 649	ebay.com
15.		Sony RX100 II	5/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	US$ 749	ebay.com
16.		Sony RX100 IV	4.5/5	+ +	..	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	US$ 999	ebay.com
17.		Sony RX100 VII	4.5/5	..	4/5	..	4/5	5/5	Jul 2019	US$ 1 199	amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. 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? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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