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Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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
  • Launched March 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH1
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GH3
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the GH2 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and GH2 (Four Thirds) have totally different sensor size.

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The SZ-11 was revealed 5 months later than the GH2 so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SZ-11 matches up against the GH2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Panasonic GH2

 SZ-11 GH2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Olympus SZ-11

 GH2 SZ-11 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Panasonic GH2

 SZ-11 GH2 
LaunchedJuly 2011March 2011Similar age
Display size3"3"Same display size
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-11 features outer dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic GH2 has dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") along with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the SZ-11 vs the GH2.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-11 and GH2 is 89 and 70 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to envision the contrast between sensor measurements purely by looking at specs. The visual here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-11 and GH2.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SZ-11 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Panasonic GH2 will resolve more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Portrait photography camera
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
70
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Street photography details
Panasonic GH2 Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
68
screen can move to multiple angles
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography features
Panasonic GH2 Sports photography features
43
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
46
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (330 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography information
Panasonic GH2 Travel photography information
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (200 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
62
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-11
Landscape photography with Panasonic GH2
40
relatively wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery pack (200 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (330 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-11
Vlogging with Panasonic GH2
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic socket
71
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic jack
lack of image stabilization
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Panasonic GH2
 Olympus SZ-11Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-11 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-07-27 2011-03-23
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 160
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 15.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 442 gr (0.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 60
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 655
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 330 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $253 $1,000