Olympus 7040 vs Panasonic GH2

Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus 7040 and Panasonic GH2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the 7040 (14MP) and the GH2 (16MP) is relatively similar but the 7040 (1/2.3") and GH2 (Four Thirds) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The 7040 was revealed 14 months before the GH2 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 7040 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the 7040 matches up versus the GH2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus 7040 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2. The full galleries are provided at Olympus 7040 Gallery & Panasonic GH2 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 7040 features physical dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 144 grams (0.32 lbs) and the Panasonic GH2 has dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") having a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Check the Olympus 7040 and Panasonic GH2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the 7040 vs the GH2.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the 7040 and GH2 is 95 and 70 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading specs. The photograph underneath will offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the 7040 and GH2.

All in all, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 7040 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Panasonic GH2 will offer you greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older 7040 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.