Olympus VG-160 vs Panasonic GH2

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic GH2, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the VG-160 (14MP) and the GH2 (16MP) is relatively similar but the VG-160 (1/2.3") and GH2 (Four Thirds) possess different sensor sizing.

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The VG-160 was manufactured 10 months after the GH2 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple summation of how the VG-160 grades vs the GH2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus VG-160 Gallery and Panasonic GH2 Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-160 provides physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH2 has dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Check out the Olympus VG-160 and Panasonic GH2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the VG-160 against the GH2.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-160 and GH2 is 96 and 70 respectively.

More often than not, it can be tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions only by going over technical specs. The picture here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the VG-160 and GH2.

As you have seen, both the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The VG-160 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Panasonic GH2 will deliver greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more recent VG-160 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.