Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GH5

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic GH5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SH-2 (16MP) and the GH5 (20MP) is very close but the SH-2 (1/2.3") and GH5 (Four Thirds) offer totally different sensor sizing.

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

The SH-2 was unveiled 22 months before the GH5 making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SH-2 matches up against the GH5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus SH-2 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SH-2 Gallery and Panasonic GH5 Gallery.

For those who are going to carry around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-2 has got outside measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Panasonic GH5 has measurements of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") having a weight of 725 grams (1.60 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic GH5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SH-2 against the GH5.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-2 and GH5 is 88 and 59 respectively.

Generally, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes purely by viewing a spec sheet. The image underneath will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-2 and GH5.

As you can see, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SH-2 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic GH5 will render extra detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged SH-2 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.