Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

72

"Quite simply, taken as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time."
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's overall-performance
"Excellent detail and resolution"
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T2i

Screen resolution
High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

36

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
Light-weight
430 g
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Canon T2i

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 460k dots
Help
Around 2.5x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
More than 6x more lenses available
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12 MP
Help
Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1800 ms
Help
4.5x less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The T2i's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.6 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
Around 50% larger sensor
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Battery life Longer battery life 440 shots vs 320 shots
Help
Around 40% more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 66.0 vs 64.0
Help
Almost the same
Size Slightly smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 124x90x76 mm
Help
Around 10% smaller
Thickness Thinner 2.4" vs 3"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The T2i's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 252 ms vs 336 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Cheaper $544.00 vs $999.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $456 cheaper (around 50% less)
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GH1

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
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 430 g vs 530 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.6 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GH1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
72 vs 36
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS Rebel T2i. 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.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
T2i:1080p @ 30fps
DMC-GH1:1080p @ 24fps
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor size Large sensors Help
T2i:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
DMC-GH1:Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
T2i:Pentamirror
DMC-GH1:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
T2i:30s
DMC-GH1:60s
Thickness Quite thick Help
T2i:2.4"
DMC-GH1:3"
Weight Heavy Help
T2i:530 g
DMC-GH1:430 g
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
T2i:1
DMC-GH1:0
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Size Large Help
T2i:129x98x62 mm
DMC-GH1:124x90x76 mm
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Has a slightly lower resolution screen
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Battery life Has a much longer battery life
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$475 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$880 with 18-55mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Weight Lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Overall image quality Better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Touch screen Has a touch screen
3D Takes 3D photos
Supports 24p No 24p support
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$615 - $642 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Size Significantly smaller
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Supports 24p No 24p support
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,125 with 14-45mm lens

Size Significantly smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

discussion

Showing 6 comments

Avatar for lpereira89 lpereira89 (8:05 PM, March 25, 2011)
t2i records 720p 60fps, 1080p 30fps and 24fps
 
Avatar for lpereira89 lpereira89 (8:05 PM, March 25, 2011)
t2i records 720p 60fps, 1080p 30fps and 24fps
 
Avatar for Alex Black Alex Black (5:40 PM, April 14, 2010)
We've fixed the specs on the GH1 movie capability, thanks!
 
Avatar for drfilms drfilms (1:34 PM, April 13, 2010)
Gh1 can record longer than 12minutes at a time and doesn't overheat so it can fill a 32GB card no problem.
 
Avatar for Alex Black Alex Black (1:21 PM, April 13, 2010)
Thanks for the comment. Good call, looks like our video specs for the GH1 are not accurate, we'll get those fixed.

Both the GH1 and the T2i look like great cameras. Even after the updated video specs, Snapsort might still declare the T2i a winner due to its larger sensor size and higher resolution LCD.
 
Avatar for betterthayou betterthayou (6:51 AM, April 13, 2010)
The GH1 records 720p at 60fps and 1080p at 24fps (film speed) so it should be at least equal if not the winner