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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
68
Imaging
60
Features
93
Overall
73
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GH2 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M1
  • New Model is Olympus E-M1 III
Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Announced March 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH3
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

Following is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic GH2, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and GH2 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 II was introduced 5 years after the GH2 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-M1 II scores against the GH2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Panasonic GH2

 E-M1 II GH2 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016March 2011More modern by 67 months
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Olympus E-M1 II

 GH2 E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic GH2

 E-M1 II GH2 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 II offers exterior measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") having a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH2 has specifications of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") having a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic GH2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M1 II and the GH2.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 II and GH2 is 68 and 70 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to envision the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through specifications. The image underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 II and GH2.

Plainly, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Olympus E-M1 II to render extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The newer E-M1 II will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography information
Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography information
76
has manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
70
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Street photography information
Panasonic GH2 Street photography information
78
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers focus via touch
weather proof
lighter than competition in class (574g)
great high ISO (25,600)
68
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GH2 Sports photography highlights
75
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (60.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery pack (350 CIPA)
46
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (330 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Travel photography camera
72
lighter than competition in class (574 grams)
weather proof
offers focus via touch
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
bad battery pack (350 per charge)
62
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (330 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography highlights
76
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have anti-alias filter
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
2 card slots
bad battery pack (350 shots)
60
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (330 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Vlogging factors
Panasonic GH2 Vlogging factors
79
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic support
lighter than competition in class (574g)
71
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
offers face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone jack
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic GH2
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2016-09-19 2011-03-23
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 160
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 60.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.10 m (at ISO 100) 15.60 m
Flash options Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MOV, H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 574 gr (1.27 lbs) 442 gr (0.97 lbs)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 60
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 11.3
DXO Low light score 1312 655
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 330 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLH-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Two One
Pricing at release $1,700 $1,000