Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 vs Samsung GX-20

In this comparison, we will evaluate the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 and the Samsung GX-20, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 was introduced in March 2011 and Samsung GX-20 was introduced in January 2008. Let us first list highlights of the models.

Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 over Samsung GX-20.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Samsung GX-20 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2.

We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

Screen

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 has a 3.0" Fully Articulated screen with 460k dot resolution and Samsung GX-20 has a 2.7" Fixed screen with 230k dot resolution. Fully articulated screen makes Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 selfie and vlogger friendly and generally very useful for video shooting. Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 also features touchscreen which has advantages such as easy menu navigation, intuitive controls, quick setting adjustment

Viewfinder

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 has a built-in Electronic (LVF) viewfinder with 1,534k dot resolution and Samsung GX-20 has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 has 100% coverage with 1.42x (0.71x 35mm equivalent) magnification and Samsung GX-20 has 95% coverage with 0.95x (0.63x 35mm equivalent) magnification.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 features a 16 megapixel Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor with dimensions of 17.3 x 13 mm and a total area of 224.9 mm². Its native ISO range is 160 - 12,800. Samsung GX-20 features a 15.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.4 x 15.6 mm and a total area of 243.4 mm². Its native ISO range is 100 - 3,200 and expands to 100 - 6,400 in boosted mode.

Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how different sensors compare with each other:

Sensor size chart

	Sensor	Dimensions	Area	Aspect Ratio	Crop Factor
	Medium Format	44 x 33 mm	1452 mm2	4:3	0.79x
	Full Frame	36 x 24 mm	864 mm2	3:2	1x
	APS-H	27 x 18 mm	486 mm2	3:2	1.3x
	APS-C	23.6 x 15.6 mm	368.2 mm2	3:2	1.5x
	APS-C (Canon)	22.3 x 14.9 mm	332.3 mm2	3:2	1.6x
	Micro Four Thirds	17.4 x 13 mm	226.2 mm2	4:3	2x
	1-inch	13.2 x 8.8 mm	116.2 mm2	3:2	2.7x
	1/1.7-inch	7.44 x 5.58 mm	41.5 mm2	4:3	4.7x
	1/2.3-inch	6.17 x 4.55 mm	28.1 mm2	4:3	5.6x

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is equipped with Venus Engine FHD processor and can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4752 x 3168, 4976 x 2800, 3520 x 1980, 3456 x 3456, 3360 x 2240, 3264 x 2448, 2448 x 2448, 2400 x 1600, 2336 x 1752, 1920 x 1280, 1920 x 1080, 1920 x 1440, 1744 x 1744, 1792 x 1792 with 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios. Samsung GX-20 can take pictures up to 4688 x 3120 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4672 x 3120, 3872 x 2592, 3008 x 2000, 1824 x 1216 with 3:2 aspect ratios.

Lens Mount

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 has Micro Four Thirds lens mount and Samsung GX-20 has Pentax K_AF2 lens mount. Due to Micro Four Thirds sensor in Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 its crop factor is equal to 2x, this means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 2. Due to APS-C sensor in Samsung GX-20 its crop factor is equal to 1.5x, this means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.5.

No Image Stabilization

The cameras do not have image stabilization. On Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Samsung GX-20 nothing can be done. On Samsung GX-20 it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 nothing can be done.

USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer. connector for video signal output.

External Storage Slots

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) card slot. Samsung GX-20 has a single SD/SDHC/MMC card slot.

Shutter

Samsung GX-20 has Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec on Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2, and up to 1/4000 sec on Samsung GX-20. Cameras can shoot continuously up to 3.0 fps.

Flash

Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 15.60 m on Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 and 13.00 m at ISO 100 on Samsung GX-20. They also accept external flash which can be connected via Hot-shoe: TTL Auto with FL220 / FL360 / FL500 (Optional) to Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 and via Hot Shoe to Samsung GX-20. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/160 sec on Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 and 1/180 sec on Samsung GX-20.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 body has dimensions of 124 x 90 x 76 mm (4.88 x 3.54 x 2.99") and Samsung GX-20 body has dimensions of 142 x 101 x 72 mm (5.59 x 3.98 x 2.83"). Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 weighs 442 g (0.97 lb / 15.59 oz) and Samsung GX-20 weighs 800 g (1.76 lb / 28.22 oz).

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Samsung GX-20

124 mm

90 mm

142 mm

101 mm

90 mm

101 mm

76 mm

72 mm