Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic GF1

In this article, we are looking at the Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic GF1, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the 7000 (12MP) and the GF1 (12MP) is very close but the 7000 (1/2.3") and GF1 (Four Thirds) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The 7000 was released 9 months before the GF1 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus 7000 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a concise summary of how the 7000 scores versus the GF1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus 7000 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus 7000 Gallery and Panasonic GF1 Gallery.

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 7000 has got physical dimensions of 96mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 172 grams (0.38 lbs) and the Panasonic GF1 has dimensions of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

See the Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic GF1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the 7000 compared to the GF1.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 7000 and GF1 is 94 and 85 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements only by looking through technical specs. The photograph below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the 7000 and GF1.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but different sensor measurements. The 7000 contains the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallower DOF more challenging. The older 7000 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.