Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic GH2

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic GH2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the FE-4000 (12MP) and GH2 (16MP) and the FE-4000 (1/2.3") and GH2 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor size.

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The FE-4000 was revealed 20 months before the GH2 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-4000 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the FE-4000 grades vs the GH2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus FE-4000 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus FE-4000 Gallery and Panasonic GH2 Gallery.

In case you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus FE-4000 features exterior dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH2 has sizing of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") along with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic GH2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the FE-4000 and the GH2.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FE-4000 and GH2 is 95 and 70 respectively.

More often than not, it is difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by reviewing specifications. The visual below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FE-4000 and GH2.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FE-4000 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Panasonic GH2 will deliver greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older FE-4000 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.