Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic GH1

Below, we will be analyzing the Olympus 7040 and Panasonic GH1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the 7040 (14MP) and the GH1 (12MP) is relatively similar but the 7040 (1/2.3") and GH1 (Four Thirds) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The 7040 was brought out 7 months after the GH1 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus 7040 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick overview of how the 7040 grades vs the GH1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus 7040 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. The entire galleries are available at Olympus 7040 Gallery & Panasonic GH1 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Olympus 7040 comes with outer measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 144 grams (0.32 lbs) while the Panasonic GH1 has specifications of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Check the Olympus 7040 and Panasonic GH1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the 7040 and the GH1.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 7040 and GH1 is 95 and 81 respectively.

Typically, it's hard to see the gap between sensor sizes just by going over specs. The picture below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the 7040 and GH1.

All in all, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 7040 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Olympus 7040 will offer you greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more recent 7040 will have an edge in sensor tech.