Panasonic GM1 Image Quality

The GM1 shares the same sensor and processor as its larger sibling, the GX7, and as such we would expect these to be virtually identical in image quality. Both cameras look quite good and sharp here at base ISO, bringing out the subtle details of our test target. Since the GM1 is substantially smaller and less expensive than the GX7, the similarity in image quality should make it a very appealing option of advanced photographers.

The X-M1, with an MSRP of $800, is the most affordable of the Fuji models to sport an APS-C-sized version of its highly acclaimed X-Trans sensor. In this comparisons, the Fuji produces sublime image quality in the first two crops, and brings out subtle details in our red fabric swatch while losing out in the pink fabric detail. The smaller-sensored GM1, while having just slightly less detail in some areas, takes a more even approach in handling all areas well.

In this face-off between two Micro Four Thirds competitors, the E-PL5 has more aggressive default sharpening than does the GM1, and it shows here with sharper-looking edges and lines, especially in the mosaic tiles. But as we've seen in other recent image comparison tables, this aggressive processing often yields mixed results as ISO rises, and can actually obscure the finest detail in the subject.

The NEX-5T has an APS-C sensor with roughly 63% more surface area on which to gather light with than does the GM1. Here at base ISO they look fairly similar in fine detail performance, both doing a great job, with slight nod to the NEX-5T for its slightly better rendering of the mosaic and red fabric swatch.

As opposed to the NEX-5T with its larger sensor, the RX100 II has a sensor about half the size of the GM1, and yet sports roughly 4 more megapixels of resolution. Sony's "backlit" sensor technology does a very good job here at base ISO, though the GM1 extracts more fine detail from the red and pink fabric swatches, areas that smaller sensors typically have a hard time resolving.

Once again, and as expected, these two siblings perform nearly identically in the image quality department. Both do a fairly good job for this ISO but show some noise processing artifacts in the bottle crop, lose some fine detail in the mosaic tiles and have a tough time resolving contrast and detail in our target's red fabric swatch.

As predicted, this is where the larger sensor and X-Trans technology of the X-M1 pulls away from the GM1. The bottle crop from the X-M1 is amazing, and there is still some good detail in the mosaic tiles and the red fabric swatch. However, as it did at base ISO, the X-M1 curiously loses detail in the pink fabric swatch, which is an odd twist on an otherwise solid performance.

The aggressive sharpening at default cameras settings helps the E-PL5 display crisper detail in these images, but at the cost of some unwanted artifacts starting to show up -- such as the granular-looking noise in the bottle crop and the pink fabric swatch. The GM1's approach to default noise reduction is more even-handed, so it would be helpful to view the two compared in RAW format with manual sharpening applied.

With its larger sensor, we would expect the NEX-5T to perform better at this ISO, and it certainly pulls more fine detail from the mosaic tile. But it also exhibits more noise in the shadowy areas behind the bottle and splotchiness in the pink fabric swatch. These are unwanted artifacts, and somewhat disappointing.

This is where the 1-inch-type sensor of the RX100 II starts to lose ground. It beats most other non-ILC compacts currently on the market, but can't keep pace with the GM1's much larger sensor as ISO rises.

And again, the same sensor and processor on these two cameras produce virtually identical results, both yielding significant noise reduction artifacts in the bottle crop and losing a lot of detail in the mosaic tiles and red fabric swatch.

Here the X-M1 doesn't outpace the GM1 nearly as much as at ISO 1600, which is curious to note. There's more detail in the mosaic tile, but in the other two crops, it doesn't really deliver anything beyond what the GM1 produced. Yet again, the X-M1 curiously loses outright on the pink fabric.

Splotchiness from default noise reduction starts to really take a toll here on the E-PL5 images, with the GM1 yet again taking a more even-handed approach.

As at ISO 1600, the NEX-5T has quite a bit more visible noise in the bottle crop than does the GM1. It also produces a much softer rendering of the pink fabric swatch. The GM1 is certainly not perfect here by any means, but kudos to it for standing up so well against two good APS-C cameras at ISO 3200!

This ISO is tough terrain for a 1-inch sensor. The RX100-II does much better than many traditional compact cameras, but most people will be much happier with its results at ISO 1600 and below.