Canon SL1 vs Panasonic GX7

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon SL1 vs Panasonic GX7

APS-C 332.3mm²
18.0 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon SL1 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon SL1 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the SL1.
Compare Canon SL1 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon SL1 conclusion.

4/3 224.9mm²
16.0 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GX7 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the GX7.

Succeeded by the Canon SL2
Compare SL1 vs SL2

Succeeded by the Panasonic GX85
Compare GX7 vs GX85

Compare CANON SL2 vs PANASONIC GX85

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Differences

Canon SL1 advantages over Panasonic GX7

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Fast startup
~0.60 vs 0.9 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
SL1 test data on DxO Mark GX7 test data on DxO Mark

843 vs 718 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video

Panasonic GX7 advantages over Canon SL1

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Higher max flash sync
1/320 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.54x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
10.7 fps vs 3.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 1140 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.0 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read SL1 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read GX7 User Reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon SL1

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-55mm Lens

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic GX7

Kit with 14-42mm Lens

Kit with 14-42mm Lens
Body Only

Review Excerpt

Extremely compact and lightweight for a DSLR; Delivers good image quality that's virtually identical to the Canon T4i/T5i; Accurate and relatively fast autofocus with improved Live View and Movie Hybrid CMOS II AF; Full 1080p HD movie recording; Better-than average kit lens (EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM).
Still not as compact as most mirrorless cameras; Slightly worse than average dynamic range and high ISO performance; Poor battery life.
Read our Canon SL1 Review

Sharp retro design and solid build; High resolution, tiltable electronic viewfinder and LCD touchscreen monitor; Competitive still image quality; Very good video quality, recording Full HD at frame rates up to 60p; Fast autofocusing and all-around performance; Robust Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities, including remote shooting when paired with a smart device
Weak built-in flash; No external mic or headphone jack for video recording; Some poor results when shooting in Creative Panorama mode
Read our Panasonic GX7 Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Canon SL1

Pentax K-5 IIs

$549
APS-C

Touchscreen
On-sensor phase detect

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon SL1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Panasonic GX7

Pentax K-5 IIs

$648
4/3

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic GX7 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Compared to Sony A58

Canon SL1

Sony A58

$549
APS-C

Lens selection
Touchscreen

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SL1 vs Sony A58

Panasonic GX7

Sony A58

$648
4/3

Lens selection
Touchscreen

$598
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

Compare Panasonic GX7 vs Sony A58

Compared to Olympus E-M10

Canon SL1

Olympus E-M10

$549
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$399
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon SL1 vs Olympus E-M10

Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M10

$648
4/3

In-camera panoramas
Fast startup

$399
4/3

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

Compare Panasonic GX7 vs Olympus E-M10

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Canon SL1

Pentax K-S1

$549
APS-C

Touchscreen
On-sensor phase detect

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SL1 vs Pentax K-S1

Panasonic GX7

Pentax K-S1

$648
4/3

Touchscreen
In-camera panoramas

$502
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GX7 vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Olympus E-M5 II

Canon SL1

Olympus E-M5 II

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$899
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

Compare Canon SL1 vs Olympus E-M5 II

Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M5 II

$648
4/3

In-camera panoramas
Internal flash

$899
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
High resolution composite

Compare Panasonic GX7 vs Olympus E-M5 II

Compare Other Cameras?