Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic GH2

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus SH-1 and Panasonic GH2, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SH-1 (16MP) and the GH2 (16MP) is very close but the SH-1 (1/2.3") and GH2 (Four Thirds) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SH-1 was announced 3 years later than the GH2 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-1 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SH-1 scores versus the GH2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus SH-1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus SH-1 Gallery & Panasonic GH2 Gallery.

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SH-1 provides outside measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Panasonic GH2 has specifications of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SH-1 and Panasonic GH2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the SH-1 compared to the GH2.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-1 and GH2 is 88 and 70 respectively.

Typically, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements merely by researching technical specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-1 and GH2.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with the identical megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The SH-1 includes the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field more challenging. The newer SH-1 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.