Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic GH2

The following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic GH2, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and GH2 (16MP) and the 550WP (1/2.3") and GH2 (Four Thirds) use different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The 550WP was revealed 3 years earlier than the GH2 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus 550WP being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the 550WP matches up vs the GH2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus 550WP and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus 550WP Gallery and Panasonic GH2 Gallery.

When you are intending to travel with your camera often, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus 550WP enjoys external measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Panasonic GH2 has sizing of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") having a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

See the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic GH2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the 550WP and the GH2.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 550WP and GH2 is 94 and 70 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions purely by researching a spec sheet. The image underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the 550WP and GH2.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The 550WP with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic GH2 will provide you with greater detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged 550WP will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.