Olympus FE-4030 vs Panasonic GF7

Following is a extensive overview of the Olympus FE-4030 and Panasonic GF7, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the FE-4030 (14MP) and the GF7 (16MP) is very close but the FE-4030 (1/2.3") and GF7 (Four Thirds) boast different sensor sizes.

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The FE-4030 was released 6 years earlier than the GF7 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus FE-4030 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the FE-4030 scores against the GF7 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus FE-4030 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus FE-4030 Gallery and Panasonic GF7 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-4030 features physical dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs) while the Panasonic GF7 has measurements of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus FE-4030 and Panasonic GF7 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the FE-4030 versus the GF7.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the FE-4030 and GF7 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes just by viewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FE-4030 and GF7.

Clearly, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FE-4030 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Panasonic GF7 will render more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged FE-4030 will be behind in sensor innovation.