When it comes to digital SLR cameras, you have a lot of great options available to you, but that doesn’t mean you should rush right out and buy the first camera you find. Two of the most popular and dependable DSLR cameras available today are the Canon EOS R5 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H cameras. Both are extremely high-quality cameras that are perfect for both beginners and more experienced photographers, so let’s take a look at the ways they are similar and their differences.
The Basics
Both of these cameras have mirrorless interchangeable lenses and a full-frame sensor, and when it comes to their resolutions, here are the numbers: for the Canon EOS you get 44.8 megapixels, and for the Panasonic that number is 24. When you’re researching the characteristics of the Canon EOS R5 vs. Panasonic S1H cameras, it’s easiest to start by taking a look at their similarities, which include:
● Electronic viewfinder: for both cameras, the number is 5760K dots.
● Shots per battery charge: for the Canon, it is 320 and for the Panasonic it is 400.
● The video capability: Canon, 8K/30p; Panasonic, 6K/30p.
● Type of touchscreen: swivel.
● Shutter flaps per second: Canon, 20; Panasonic, 9.
● Water-sealed body: both cameras have this feature.
● LCD: Canon, 3.2” and 2100K dots; Panasonic, 3.2” and 2330K dots.
● Both cameras have in-body stabilization.
● ISO: Canon, 100-51200 (50-102400); Panasonic, 100-51200 (50-204800).
As you can see, the numbers in both of these cameras are very similar, and even the sizes of the cameras are similar. For example, the Canon EOS is 5.4” x 3.9” x 3.5” in size and weighs 26 oz; and the Panasonic is 5.9” x 4.5” x 4.3” in size and weighs 37 oz. However, with respect to these sizes, you should consider that these numbers can mean a difference in some areas.
For instance, the Panasonic S1H is considerably larger by roughly 25% than the Canon EOS, as well as about 43% heavier. Does this make a difference? It does if the size and weight matter to you, especially if you’re one of those people who want either an especially light camera or one that is a little heavier than normal. In this respect, you’ll be able to choose one or the other depending on which side you’re on.
What About Other Characteristics?
Of course, one of the biggest considerations when buying a digital camera is the price, although to be honest, the price should never be the first or only thing you look at when buying a high-quality camera. But here we have roughly the same numbers once again, with the Canon costing around $3,900 and the Panasonic costing roughly $4,000 – not enough of a difference for you to base your decision on that alone, which is a good thing.
If you want to further compare features that are considered very important, let’s take a look at the imaging sensors of both cameras, which have a lot to do with image quality. As a basic rule, if you have a larger sensor, you’ll automatically have larger individual pixels, which means a wider dynamic range, better low-light sensitivity, and richer color depth because the pixels are larger. Larger sensors also provide you with better depth of field in the image, which means you can do a better job of isolating the subject from the background.
The only downside to having larger sensors is that the cameras are usually bigger and heavier, not to mention more expensive, but if you’re looking for higher-quality photos, it is worth it in the end.
But back to the Canon and Panasonic cameras. Both of them have full-frame sensors, but as you can see by looking at the numbers, their sensors are somewhat different. Both cameras have a sensor width-to-sensor height ratio of 3:2 and are equipped with complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensors, but the Canon has 44.8 megapixels as compared to Panasonic’s 24. This means the Canon has a higher resolution but smaller individual pixels. To put this in practical terms, consider the maximum print size of photographs for the two cameras:
● Canon: for good quality (200 DPI), the max size is 41” x 27”; for very good quality (250 DPI), it is 33” x 22”; and for excellent quality (300 DPI), it is 27” x 18”.
● Panasonic: for good quality, the max size is 30” x 20”; for very good quality, 24” x 16”; and for excellent quality, 20” x 13”.
If you’re planning to not print pictures because you’re mostly using them for online websites, you could conceivably choose either camera, but if you intend to print out photographs on a regular basis, you may prefer the Canon R5 because you can produce larger photographs that have high quality as well.
ISO and Image Quality
The ISO settings on digital cameras are also important because these sensors affect the sensitivity to different light scenarios. The Canon EOS R5 ISO number of 100 to 51200 is the same as the Panasonic S1H; however, the possibility to extend the ISO range to 102400 for the Canon and 204800 for the Panasonic means that the Panasonic has more sensitivity to light, which usually results in better photos if the light is low.
That being said, when you’re comparing these two cameras, here is a recap of the main advantages for each of them that may help you decide which one to purchase:
● Better high-definition movie capture (8K/30p versus 6K/30p).
● Faster bursts, which is important when you shoot something at the spur of the moment.
● More compact and a smaller, lighter size.
● More detail, thanks to more megapixels and higher linear resolution.
● Viewfinder image is larger and has a higher magnification (0.78x versus 0.76x).
● Full-sized HDMI port for more solid recording capability.
● Composites that are high in quality because it can combine several shots after pixel-shifting the sensor.
● Gets more shots on each battery charge (400 versus 320).
So as you can see, when you’re comparing these two cameras, there are a lot of ways to determine which one will best meet your needs, and it all starts by knowing which of the above features is most important to you.
