Olympus TG-320 vs Panasonic GH1

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus TG-320 versus Panasonic GH1, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the TG-320 (14MP) and the GH1 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the TG-320 (1/2.3") and GH1 (Four Thirds) boast different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The TG-320 was announced 2 years after the GH1 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-320 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the TG-320 matches up versus the GH1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus TG-320 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus TG-320 Gallery and Panasonic GH1 Gallery.

In case you're going to travel with your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus TG-320 provides external dimensions of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") and a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH1 has sizing of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-320 versus Panasonic GH1 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 the time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the TG-320 versus the GH1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the TG-320 and GH1 is 94 and 81 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions only by reading through technical specs. The image below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-320 and GH1.

As you can tell, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The TG-320 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Olympus TG-320 will resolve greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The fresher TG-320 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.