Olympus XZ-10 vs Panasonic GH2

The following is a detailed assessment of the Olympus XZ-10 and Panasonic GH2, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the XZ-10 (12MP) and GH2 (16MP) and the XZ-10 (1/2.3") and GH2 (Four Thirds) feature different sensor sizes.

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The XZ-10 was brought out 23 months after the GH2 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus XZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the XZ-10 scores against the GH2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus XZ-10 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2. The entire galleries are available at Olympus XZ-10 Gallery and Panasonic GH2 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus XZ-10 provides exterior dimensions of 102mm x 61mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Panasonic GH2 has specifications of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") and a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Check the Olympus XZ-10 and Panasonic GH2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the XZ-10 vs the GH2.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-10 and GH2 is 91 and 70 respectively.

Normally, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions simply by checking specs. The picture underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-10 and GH2.

All in all, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-10 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic GH2 will resolve extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The fresher XZ-10 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.