Canon EOS
500D
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF1

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Canon EOS 500D

50

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 20fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

30

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Size
 Really small
Mid size 119x71x36 mm
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
1.4"
Weight
 Light-weight
330 g
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Canon 500D
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 20fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
 More than 6x more lenses available
Overall image quality Better image quality 63.0 vs 54.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 300 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
 4.7x less delay when turning on
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
 1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 12 MP
Help
 Capture around 30% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 21.7 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 663 ISO vs 513 ISO
Help
 The 500D has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 159 ms vs 409 ms
Help
 2.6x less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Cross type focus points Slightly more cross-type focus points 1 vs 0
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Lowest price Cheaper $599.00 vs $999.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $401 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF1
Size Significantly smaller 119x71x36 mm vs 129x98x62 mm
Help
 2.6x smaller
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Focus points More focus points 23 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Weight Lighter 330 g vs 520 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.4" vs 2.4"
Help
 More than 40% thinner
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 500D
50 vs 30
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 500D. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 500D
 Canon EOS 500D vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
PanasonicLumix DMC-GF1
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
1
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
1
0
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
1
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
1
0
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
0
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
0
0
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
500D:15.1 MP
DMC-GF1:12 MP
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
500D:30s
DMC-GF1:60s
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
500D:1
DMC-GF1:0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$652 - $888 body only

$778 - $932 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 550D vs the EOS 500D
Compare the EOS 550D vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the EOS 500D
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$484 - $648 body only

$570 - $659 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS 1100D vs the EOS 500D
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Autofocus Video autofocus
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 500D
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$860 - $1,035 body only

$922 - $1,099 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Size Larger
Compare the EOS 600D vs the EOS 500D
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Size Larger
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 500D
Canon EOS 450D

Canon EOS 450D

Entry-level DSLR

$803 body only
Battery life Longer battery life
Color depth Better color depth
Movie format Does not take movies
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS 450D vs the EOS 500D

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$754 body only

$916 - $964 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 - $379 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$700 body only

$439 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$320 - $468
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Interchangeable lenses Built-in lens only
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,189 - $1,419
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Screen size Smaller screen
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1

appearance

Canon EOS 500D Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Canon EOS 500D Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Canon EOS 500D Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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