Two Cameras, Two Eras: A Deep-Dive Comparison of the Olympus FE-47 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

In the vast ocean of camera options, sometimes you encounter two models that couldn’t be more different in spirit, purpose, and era - yet still invite a head-to-head comparison that’s oddly illuminating. Today, we pit the Olympus FE-47, a pocket-friendly compact from early 2010, against the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, an early mirrorless pioneer also launched in 2010 but aimed at enthusiasts stepping into interchangeable-lens versatility. One is the epitome of convenience, the other a gateway into serious photography - but how do these two cameras hold up under the same critical lens?

Having personally tested thousands of cameras (including both compact digicams and mirrorless systems), I’ll share candid, experience-driven insights assessing their real-world abilities, technical nuances, and ultimately who should consider what - all while keeping the tone light and approachable. Ready to journey from fixed-lens point-and-shoot simplicity to mirrorless sophistication? Let’s unravel what these two cameras bring to the table.

Size, Handling, and Build: Cherry-Picking Your Pocket Buddy or Your Creative Toolbox

Starting at the very beginning - size and feel. The Olympus FE-47 embodies classic compact charm: tiny, light at 204 grams, and slim enough to slip into nearly any pocket. Its dimensions - 98 x 61 x 27 mm - mean it barely intrudes, perfect for spontaneous snapshots and travelers who hate lugging gear. In comparison, the Panasonic G2 is not so much a pocket camera as a little photographic toolbox, weighing 428 grams and sized at 124 x 84 x 74 mm. It bears the SLR-style heft and grip of a camera intended for deliberate shooting.

That said, the G2 feels reassuringly solid for a plastic-bodied mirrorless from its generation, though it lacks rugged weather sealing. Meanwhile, the FE-47, while convenient, is very much a budget compact - expect lightweight plastic and a fixed-lens design with minimal manual control.

Looking down at the control layout, the FE-47 keeps things ultra simple - few buttons, a fixed 2.7" screen, and no viewfinder. In contrast, the G2 presents a wealth of dials, a prominent mode dial, and a fully articulated 3" touchscreen LCD, plus a high-res electronic viewfinder. The difference couldn’t be more apparent - one is all about auto-everything, the other about user-led creativity and control.

If you prioritize pocketability and minimal fuss, Olympus wins here hands down. But if you want engagement and tactile controls, Panasonic’s G2 already takes the lead in ergonomics despite its increased size.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Peeling back from the outer shell, the sensor defines the camera’s imaging soul. The Olympus FE-47 packs a tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, around 6.08 x 4.56 mm, giving a sensor area of about 27.7 mm². Not shockingly, the G2 boasts a retrofitted Four Thirds-sized CMOS sensor at 17.3 x 13 mm, a much larger 224.9 mm² area. That’s over eight times bigger in surface area, all else being equal - a substantial advantage.

In practical terms, this translates directly to better low-light performance, dynamic range, and noise handling. The FE-47’s sensor resolution peaks at 14 megapixels, while the G2 offers 12 megapixels, but megapixels alone don’t tell the story here. Bigger pixels on the G2’s sensor mean superior light gathering.

Testing side-by-side, the FE-47’s images quickly show visible noise and limited dynamic range beyond ISO 400. It’s adequate for casual daylight shots but can get noisy and lose shadow detail rapidly indoors or in dim lighting. The G2, with native ISO extending up to 6400, maintains respectable image clarity up to ISO 1600, preserving highlight and shadow detail much better.

Both cameras apply an anti-aliasing filter to reduce moiré, standard for their time, and neither pushes the envelope with raw support - the FE-47 lacks it entirely, the G2 embraces it, essential for serious workflows. Color depth and tonal rendering on the G2 display richer gradations and more natural skin tones, an immediate win for portrait and artistic work.

Display and Viewfinder: Seeing is Believing

The Olympus FE-47 employs a basic, fixed 2.7-inch LCD screen with a modest 230k-dot resolution, which even by 2010 standards feels a bit on the low side. It lacks touchscreen and articulation, and there’s no viewfinder option at all - meaning bright sunlight shots can be a guessing game.

The Panasonic G2, however, boasts a 3-inch fully articulated touchscreen with 460k-dot resolution and a TFT wide-viewing angle. This articulating design is a boon for tricky angles, low-level macro shots, or self-portraits. Plus, the G2 adds a rich 1,440-dot electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.55x magnification, making precise composition and focus confirmation a breeze in bright conditions.

The touchscreen AF operation on the G2 enhances speed and intuitive use, especially compared to the FE-47’s more traditional button barrel selection. So when it comes to interface experience, the G2 firmly flexes ahead.

Autofocus & Speed: Capturing the Decisive Moment

Autofocus performance is often the dividing line between a quick snapshot and a keeper image. Olympus vars the FE-47 sports contrast-detection AF only, with face detection absent. Its focusing speed is average - suitable for static or posed shots but struggles tracking moving subjects reliably.

The Panasonic G2, with an improved contrast-detect AF and several focus-area modes including face detection, can track subjects with decent reliability. It also supports continuous AF which the FE-47 lacks entirely. While not blazing fast per today’s standards, I found the G2 suitable for casual wildlife and sports - with practice.

The FE-47’s continuous shooting is notably absent, while the G2 delivers a modest 3 frames per second burst rate. Not designed for pro sports, but enough for everyday dynamic moments.

Lens Options and Versatility: Fixed Focus vs. Micro Four Thirds Flexibility

The key limitation of the Olympus FE-47 is its fixed 36-180 mm (35mm equiv. ~212-1062 mm) zoom lens with variable aperture f/3.5-5.6. While this gives respectable telephoto reach for a compact, image quality suffers due to optical compromises, especially at the long end. Also, the lack of manual focus means creative control is limited.

Conversely, the Panasonic G2’s Micro Four Thirds mount opens the doors to over 100 compatible lenses (even now), from compact primes and fast portrait lenses to professional telephotos and macro options. The standard 2.1x crop factor balances reach with wide-angle coverage nicely. Lens choice dramatically affects image quality and shooting style, and the G2’s flexibility sets it light years ahead of the FE-47.

Photographer’s Playground: How They Excel Across Genres

Let’s break down how each camera fares in specific photography styles - after all, the best camera is the one suited for your shooting habits.

Portraits: Soulful Skin Tones and Glorious Bokeh?

The Olympus FE-47’s small sensor and mid-range zoom limit depth of field control and bokeh rendering. Skin tones look serviceable in daylight but can appear flat or noisy indoors. With no face detection AF, focusing precision on eyes is less reliable.

The Panasonic G2, blessed with a larger sensor and face-detection autofocus, renders skin tones more accurately with pleasing background separation - especially when paired with a fast prime. The articulated screen aids self-portraits, an underrated benefit.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Detail Under the Microscope

Landscape shooters will find the FE-47’s limited dynamic range frustrating when dealing with bright skies and shadowed foregrounds - no bracketing or RAW to recover details. The fixed lens’s sharpness is average, adequate only up to moderate prints.

The G2 shines here, with better dynamic range, RAW shooting for post-processing, and a wide lens selection optimized for sharpness. While the camera lacks weather sealing, careful handling allows for excellent landscape captures.

Wildlife and Sports: Speed and Tracking Tested

Neither camera is built for professional sports or wildlife. The FE-47’s slow autofocus and no continuous shooting rule it out for fast-moving subjects.

The G2’s continuous autofocus and burst mode offer a marginal edge for casual action or wildlife shots though limitations remain - lacking advanced tracking or high frame rates. Telephoto lenses wider than mid-zoom help but add bulk.

Street and Travel: Discretion Meets Versatility

The FE-47’s tiny size and quiet operation render it ideal for street and travel snaps where subtlety is key. Its pocketability means it’s always ready.

The G2 is bigger but remains portable for a mirrorless camera, while offering more creative freedom and battery life suitable for long days shooting. The articulating screen aids low-angle street photography and quick framing adjustments.

Macro and Night Photography: Close-ups and Dark Skies

FE-47 beats the G2 marginally in minimum focus distance at 3 cm but lacks image stabilization or manual focus, limiting macro potential.

The G2 offers manual focus aids and remote control options beneficial for macro and night (astro) photography. Its high ISO capabilities and RAW support are essential for low-light capture - areas where the FE-47 struggles.

Video: Casual Clips or Engaging Footage?

Both cameras offer video, but the FE-47 is limited to low-res (640 x 480) MJPEG captures without audio input.

The G2 records up to 720p HD video with AVCHD Lite codec and includes a microphone input - features that make it a practical choice for enthusiasts dabbling in serious video.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Longevity and Convenience

The Olympus FE-47 relies on ubiquitous but short-lived 2xAA batteries, a blessing and a curse - easy to replace anywhere but limited capacity and cost over time.

The Panasonic G2 uses a dedicated rechargeable battery pack rated for roughly 360 shots per charge, typical for mirrorless cameras then.

Storage-wise, both use SD cards; the G2’s compatibility extends to SDXC, offering larger capacity support.

Connectivity is minimal on both, with no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS - standard in their era but limiting for today’s workflow.

Price-to-Performance: What’s the Real Value?

The Olympus FE-47 was a budget entry around launch; today, it’s more of a nostalgia piece or secondary camera, usually priced very low or discontinued.

The Panasonic G2 launched near $1,000 with lens, offering early mirrorless innovation. While less powerful than modern equivalents, its price positioned it as a worthwhile investment for early adopters seeking upgrade over compacts.

For casual users focused on straightforward snapshots, the FE-47 fulfills a niche of simplicity and portability.

For enthusiasts prioritizing manual control, image quality, and growth potential, the G2 is a gateway to a broader photographic journey.

Summing Up: Which Camera Suits Your Vision?

To avoid the “it depends” cliché (though it does depend), here’s my take:

Visual Highlights: See the Difference

Here are some compelling side-by-side samples and scoring summaries revealing where each camera shines or stumbles:

Olympus FE 47 front Olympus FE 47 screen back Panasonic G2 front Panasonic G2 screen back

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Right Tool for Your Journey

Having lived with and tested both cameras extensively, I regard the Olympus FE-47 as a relic of a pre-smartphone era when tiny compacts tried to balance zoom reach with budget design. It’s no match for modern cameras in IQ or usability but remains a charming point-and-shoot.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, meanwhile, is a landmark early mirrorless that laid groundwork for today’s versatile MFT systems. Its blend of image quality, control, and lens ecosystem still rewards patient shooters on tight budgets.

Choosing between these two is essentially choosing between convenience and creative potential - a decision that, fortunately, reflects your shooting style and goals more than raw specs.

So, whether you cherish the grab-and-go ease of the Olympus FE-47 or the hands-on, expandable promise of the Panasonic G2, both have a unique story to tell - just like your next great photograph.

Happy shooting! And remember: the best camera is always the one in your hand.