If you've graduated from being a beginner photographer and you're ready to upgrade your camera gear, doing so can be quite the decision because there are so many choices for cameras these days.
For many enthusiast photographers, that means poring over dozens and dozens of possibilities.
To help narrow your search, I've selected two very capable and feature-packed enthusiast-level cameras - the Fujifilm X-H1 and the Panasonic Lumix G9 - to highlight in detail.
Both cameras are mirrorless and bring plenty of punch to the table, so let's get started comparing these two excellent cameras!
Editor's Tip: Buying a new camera means spending a good chunk of change, but you can stretch your budget further by buying pre-owned gear.
Fujifilm X-H1 vs Panasonic Lumix G9: Common Features
As noted above, both of these cameras are mirrorless, which, in turn, means that they both have small bodies that make them easy to carry around.
The Fujifilm X-H1 weighs in at 1.48 pounds (without a lens attached) and the Panasonic Lumix G9 comes in at 1.45 pounds (without a lens attached).
These cameras are similarly sized as well, with the Fujifilm measuring 5.5x3.8x3.4 inches and the Panasonic measuring 5.4x3.8x3.6 inches.
So, in terms of size and weight, these cameras are highly comparable, and give you a portable, easy-to-use camera body for just about any shooting situation.
These cameras also come loaded with modern conveniences that any photographer will appreciate:
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- Smartphone remote control
- Electronic viewfinder
- 1.040-dot articulating touchscreen LCD
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- Weather-sealed body
So, not only do both cameras offer things like WiFi and Bluetooth for easy connectivity with other devices, but you can also control the camera via your smartphone.
In both cases you'll find a large, high-resolution articulating touchscreen for making low-angle and high-angle shots a little easier to get.
You'll undoubtedly appreciate the built-in image stabilization for sharper photos when shooting handheld and the weather-sealed bodies when shooting in adverse weather.
In terms of many of their features, these camera are neck-and-neck. Let's discuss a few differences between the two that could sway your opinion one way or the other.
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Fujifilm X-H1 vs Panasonic Lumix: Differences
To make these comparisons easiest, let's examine a few specific features in a head-to-head format.
Sensor
The Fujifilm comes with a 24.3-megapixel X-Trans III CMOS APS-C sensor, which is widely regarded as one of the best sensors on the market today.
The images that the sensor can produce are crystal clear, beautifully contrasty, have excellent colors, and are highly detailed. If you're looking for a high-quality sensor that can handle anything you can throw at it, this is it.
And while the Fujifilm might have a better sensor, it's not like the Panasonic is a slouch.
With a 20.3-megapixel micro four-thirds sensor, the Panasonic doesn't have the megapixel count as its rival, however, its pixels are roughly the same size as the Fujifilm's, so the output quality of both cameras is also similar.
Still, if I had to choose the better of the two sensors, my vote would go to the Fujifilm.
Get more details about the Fujifilm X-H1 in the video above by Kai W.
Autofocus System
Another important feature to compare is the autofocus system.
Again, the Fujifilm outguns the Panasonic with 325 autofocus points compare to 225 autofocus points.
I'd happily shoot with 225 autofocus points any day, but the Fujifilm has phase-detection autofocus where the Panasonic does not. Phase-detect autofocus can significantly aid in getting sharper, focused images.
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ISO Performance
If you tend to shoot in low-light situations, you might want to inspect the Panasonic a little more thoroughly.
With a maximum ISO of 25600, it can accommodate better low-light performance more so than the Fujifilm, which maxes out at 12800.
That's a significant disparity that could make the difference between getting well-exposed low-light shots or not.
Continuous Shooting
If action shooting is something you typically pursue, again, the Panasonic might be the better choice.
It can accommodate 20fps shooting where the Fujifilm can muster "only" 14fps.
Either way, both cameras offer excellent burst shooting speed, but it's hard to deny how impactful that extra 6fps could be when the moment matters.
Editor's Tip: Do you have old gear just collecting dust? Sell your old camera and lenses and use the proceeds to fund a new kit. Get started here.
Video Features
For video enthusiasts, it's important to note that the Panasonic is a much more capable camera.
Not only is the Panasonic the only one of the two to offer 4K video, but it also has 6K video capabilities as well.
Additionally, the Panasonic has a headphone port so you can monitor audio quality while you shoot video.
You can even extract 8-megapixel still images from videos that you shoot in 4K and 18-megapixel still images from videos that you shoot in 6K.
Learn more about the Panasonic G9 in the video above by the Hybrid Shooter.
Wrapping It Up: Which is Better?
Now that I've outlined some of the essential features of these cameras, it's time to declare a winner.
The problem is, these are both really good cameras, so pegging one as the winner is virtually impossible.
Likely what it will come down to in determining which of these cameras is best for you is the specific type of work you do.
That is, if you're heavy into video, the Panasonic is the better choice. If you need a higher-resolution sensor for creating large, detailed prints, the Fujifilm is the better choice.
Likewise, pricing is undoubtedly a significant factor in making your decision.
The Fujifilm will set you back $1,649 for the body only (at the time of writing) while the Panasonic is similarly priced at $1,698 (again, at the time of writing).
That means that unless you can find one or the other at significant savings - like buying used - price isn't really a factor here.
Instead, making a decision between these two highly capable cameras will come down to which one suits your specific needs the best.
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