Olympus 1 vs Panasonic FH7

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus 1 and Panasonic FH7, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the 1 (12MP) and FH7 (16MP) and the 1 (1/1.7") and FH7 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 1 was unveiled 2 years after the FH7 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic FH7 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a short overview of how the 1 scores versus the FH7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus 1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7. The full galleries are available at Olympus 1 Gallery and Panasonic FH7 Gallery.

If you are intending to travel with your camera, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus 1 provides external dimensions of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) and the Panasonic FH7 has proportions of 95mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus 1 and Panasonic FH7 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the 1 compared to the FH7.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 and FH7 is 79 and 96 respectively.

In many cases, its tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing specs. The pic below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 and FH7.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 1 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FH7 will deliver extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The younger 1 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.