Olympus Stylus 9000 vs Panasonic Lumix GH2: An Expert’s Deep Dive into Two Distinct Photo Machines

When stepping into the world of digital cameras, the sheer variety can bog down even seasoned shooters. Today, I’m unraveling the contrasts between two notably different offerings emblematic of their eras and market segments: the Olympus Stylus 9000, a small sensor compact from 2009, and the Panasonic Lumix GH2, a 2011 advanced mirrorless camera that garnered a loyal following among enthusiasts and prosumers. Both hold unique appeals, but they cater to radically different types of users and photographic intentions.

Having personally tested these cameras in my studio and in varied outdoor conditions, I’ll walk you through their nuances: technical specs, real-world performance, and ultimately, which kinds of photographers are likely to benefit most from each. Ready? Let’s start with the physical and ergonomic experience.

Size, Ergonomics, and Handling: Pocket Friendly vs. Mirrorless Bulk

Upon first glance and hold, these cameras couldn’t be more different. The Olympus 9000 is a compact powerhouse, sized to slip effortlessly into a jacket pocket or small bag (96 x 60 x 31 mm, just 225g). It’s built for grab-and-go ease, touting a fixed lens that zooms from 28–280mm equivalent focal length - a generous range optimized for everyday shooting without lens swapping.

The Panasonic GH2, by contrast, wears its mirrorless intentions on its SLR-style sleeve. It’s noticeably larger and heavier (124 x 90 x 76 mm, 442g), with a substantial grip and fully interchangeable lens mount supporting the Micro Four Thirds system. This means you have a gateway to 100+ lenses - primes, zooms, macros, you name it. From a handling perspective, the GH2 feels more purposeful in hand and designed for serious photography sessions, while the Olympus feels like a pocketable companion.

So, if portability and minimal fuss are your top priorities - say for street, travel, or casual use - the 9000’s pocket-ready size will thrill you. Meanwhile, if you prefer physical controls, the option to tailor optics, and a DSLR-like grip, the GH2 suits better.

Design and Control Layout: Simplicity vs. Customizability

Looking from the top, the Olympus adopts a minimalist approach, with no external dials or manual controls. Shooting modes, exposure, and zoom control are mostly menu-driven and button-based, which aligns with its “point-and-shoot” ethos. No surprises here - it’s an automatic enthusiast’s dream.

The Panasonic GH2, however, offers a far more sophisticated control scheme. It sports traditional dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and easily accessible buttons for ISO and white balance. The “Venus Engine FHD” processor under the hood facilitates snappy operation, and the multifunction joystick lets you navigate menus with efficiency.

From personal trials, this layout difference means the GH2 invites a hands-on shooting style, rewarding those who want to shape their exposure and focus settings manually (and who have the patience to learn). Meanwhile, the Olympus 9000 serves perfectly for spontaneous moments where convenience trumps control.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Small Sensor Compact vs. Four Thirds Power

Here’s the heart of the matter. The Olympus 9000 houses a 1/2.3” CCD sensor - typical of compact cameras from its generation - totaling roughly 27.7 mm² of active area with 12 megapixels. It naturally suffers limitations inherent in small sensor designs: higher noise at elevated ISOs (max native ISO 1600), modest dynamic range, and limited low light capability.

The Panasonic GH2, on the other hand, employs a Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm - about eight times larger surface area (224.9 mm²) - with a 16MP resolution. This sensor, paired with the Venus Engine FHD processor, offers greatly enhanced noise performance (max native ISO 12800), wider dynamic range, and finer detail reproduction.

In practical terms, portraits from the GH2 display punchier colors and more natural skin tones with smooth gradations, thanks to improved color depth (21.2 bits vs. Olympus’s untested but presumed inferior). The larger sensor also meaningfully contributes to better background separation and pleasing bokeh when paired with fast lenses, something the Olympus’s small sensor and slow lens maximum aperture (F3.2–5.9) cannot mimic authentically.

In landscapes, the GH2’s superior dynamic range and resolution provide lush detail even in challenging light, whereas the Olympus can feel constrained and prone to highlight clipping.

LCD Screen and Electronic Viewfinder: Modern Flexibility vs. Basic Display

The Olympus 9000 sports a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with 230k-dot resolution. It's basic but functional for framing shots, though the limited brightness and no touchscreen mean usability falters in bright sunlight or for quick menu navigation.

Panasonic applied a far more advanced, fully articulated 3-inch touchscreen with 460k-dot resolution on the GH2, greatly enhancing compositional flexibility, especially for shooting at awkward angles. Also, the GH2 includes a 100% coverage electronic viewfinder with 0.71x magnification - essential for precise framing and stability during action or bright sun.

For users who prioritize video or prefer shooting like an SLR, the GH2’s screen and EVF combo is unbeatable. Olympus’s fixed LCD, while adequate for simple shots, feels dated and limiting now.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Precision and Speed Matter

The Olympus relies on contrast detection AF only, with a single center-area focus zone and no face detection or tracking. Autofocus speed is sluggish compared to modern standards and can struggle in low contrast or dynamic scenes. There’s no continuous autofocus or burst shooting. Manual focus is unavailable altogether.

Conversely, the Panasonic GH2 offers 23 focus points with contrast detection AF augmented by face detection and multi-area AF, plus continuous AF and subject tracking. In my tests, the GH2 locks focus swiftly and accurately, with consistent success in challenging conditions like wildlife or sports action. It can shoot bursts at 3 FPS, not blazing fast but serviceable for many dynamic subjects.

For portrait and wildlife photographers who demand reliable autofocus, GH2 clearly rules. Olympus is best reserved for more casual or static use.

Lens Compatibility and Ecosystem: Fixed Convenience vs. System Flexibility

The 9000’s fixed 10x zoom lens covering 28-280mm equivalent is versatile for travel snapshots or everyday use but offers no option to swap optics. Its maximum aperture range (f/3.2-5.9) restricts low light and depth of field control, as already mentioned. Image stabilization is sensor-shift, which helps reduce blur from hand shake.

By contrast, the GH2 inherits the rich Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem with over 100 lenses available from Panasonic, Olympus, Sigma, and others. Whether you want primes for portraits or macro lenses for detail shots, the system is deep and continually evolving. You’re no longer boxed in.

The GH2 body itself lacks in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which Olympus pioneered. So stabilization depends on lens IS or external rigs, but with that huge lens pool you have plenty of IS-enabled choices.

Video Capabilities: Casual Clips vs. Advanced HD Video

For videographers, the gap here is substantial. The Olympus 9000 records very basic low-resolution video (VGA 640x480 at 30fps, Motion JPEG) - adequate for quick snippets but nothing beyond casual use.

The Panasonic GH2 is a true game-changer for its era, offering full HD 1080p recording at multiple frame rates (24, 30, 60fps), AVCHD or Motion JPEG formats, and manual control of exposure during video shooting. There’s a microphone input for external audio capture, further elevating its appeal for filmmakers on a budget.

If video is a significant factor for you, the GH2’s advanced capabilities bring far more value and creative flexibility.

Battery Life and Storage: Everyday Usability

The Olympus uses an unspecified battery with modest life, rated mostly by user feedback as roughly a couple hundred shots per charge with no detailed specs. Storage relies on xD Picture Cards, microSD, and internal memory - older formats that are slower and more niche today.

The GH2 takes standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, uniformly compatible and fast. Its battery life is rated at 330 shots per charge, more than adequate for a day of shooting, though not exceptional by modern mirrorless standards.

Connectivity options are sparse on both; neither offers wireless features, NFC, or GPS, which was normal for their release periods.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing, dustproofing, or shock resistance. Both are consumer/prosumer level, with plastic bodies that feel solid but not rugged.

Given its compact form, the Olympus encourages light, everyday use without heavy protection. The GH2, while larger and more robust, still necessitates careful handling in bad weather.

Real-World Photography Head-to-Head: Sample Shots and Genre Suitability

Olympus 9000 front Olympus 9000 screen back Panasonic GH2 front Panasonic GH2 screen back

In portrait scenarios, GH2 excels in reproducing natural skin tones and delivering beautiful bokeh with fast lenses, thanks to its sensor size and lens options. Olympus 9000's shots are serviceable but flatter, with limited background blur.

For landscapes, GH2’s dynamic range and resolution shine, capturing rich detail even in tricky light. Olympus’s smaller sensor and compression restrictions lead to less detailed, noisier images.

Wildlife and sports: GH2's quick and accurate continuous AF and burst modes outperform Olympus’s fixed-lens sluggish focusing by a wide margin.

Street photography benefits from Olympus’s small size and quiet operation - the GH2 is larger and more conspicuous, though superior in image quality and control.

Macro lovers will find GH2’s lens range and focusing options more usable. Olympus’s fixed lens allows close focusing down to 1cm, but with less depth control and sharpness.

Night and astro photography is limited on the Olympus because of its high noise and maximum ISO 1600; GH2’s higher ISO ceiling and better sensor technology enable more usable low-light images.

Video enthusiasts will naturally gravitate toward GH2’s full HD capabilities.

Overall Performance and Ratings

In formal performance scoring (e.g., DxOMark-style or user benchmarks), the GH2 generally receives around 60 overall, with exceptional color depth, dynamic range, and low light prowess for its class. Olympus 9000 went untested by these standards but is expectedly far behind in image quality metrics.

Which Camera Excels in Specific Photography Fields?

• Portrait Photography: GH2 leads with better skin tone rendering and bokeh potential.
• Landscape Photography: GH2’s dynamic range and resolution outmatch Olympus.
• Wildlife and Sports: GH2 for autofocus speed and burst shooting.
• Street Photography: Olympus 9000 for discretion, compactness.
• Macro Photography: GH2 for lens choice and focusing precision.
• Night/Astro: GH2 offers higher ISO and better noise handling.
• Video Work: GH2 provides HD video and audio inputs.
• Travel Photography: Olympus 9000 excels in portability; GH2 in versatility.
• Professional Workflows: GH2’s RAW support and manual controls essential.

Where Do These Cameras Truly Shine?

Olympus Stylus 9000
I find the 9000 rewarding for photographers craving simplicity, portability, and an all-in-one zoom for casual use and travel light days. It’s not a device for pro-grade image quality or creative control. Instead, it promises you decent images with minimal tinkering, plus the convenience of sensor-shift stabilization to help handheld shots.

Panasonic Lumix GH2
The GH2 remains a compelling mirrorless classic - large sensor, excellent controls, and a strong lens ecosystem. If you want to develop skill with manual shooting modes, enjoy video as much as stills, or delve into serious photography genres, the GH2 delivers. It’s aging hardware today but still competes well if paired with good lenses.

Final Thoughts: Matching Your Camera Choice to Your Photographic Journey

If you prioritize portability and ease, particularly for casual or travel shoots with little fuss, the Olympus 9000 is a compelling budget pick, especially if you find units at attractive prices today.

For users deeply invested in creative control, image quality, autofocus speed, and video, the Panasonic GH2 remains a strong contender, especially since it supports RAW and offers access to a rich system lens lineup.

Neither of these cameras supports modern conveniences like wireless connectivity or advanced weather sealing, so weigh how important those are for you.

My Recommendation at a Glance

• First camera or casual shooter with pocket-size needs? Olympus Stylus 9000.
• Enthusiast or semi-pro seeking a camera to grow with? Panasonic Lumix GH2.
• Video shooter wanting HD footage and microphone input? GH2 only.
• Someone prioritizing silent, simple street photography? Olympus will serve better.
• A nature or action photographer needing fast autofocus? GH2 is your tool.

If you want a comprehensive comparison chart or sample image walkthrough, be sure to check out the images embedded here - they highlight key differences I refer to throughout.

In sum, this isn’t apples vs. apples: the Stylus 9000 is a compact snapshot tool, the GH2 is an advanced creative system. Evaluate your priorities carefully before buying. With each, you get a distinctive photographic experience and distinct sweet spots.

Happy shooting!

Explore More:
If you’re curious about how these cameras handle in specific scenarios (portraits, sports, night), or want to see direct image comparisons, check my accompanying galleries and detailed field tests. I’ve also included full exposure and ISO series tests in my video review, which you might find helpful for in-depth analysis.

• • [Your Name], Camera Tester & Gear Analyst*