Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic G9

The following is a thorough review of the Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic G9, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the VR-320 (14MP) and G9 (20MP) and the VR-320 (1/2.3") and G9 (Four Thirds) posses totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The VR-320 was brought out 7 years prior to the G9 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the VR-320 grades versus the G9 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus VR-320 and Panasonic Lumix DC-G9. The entire galleries are available at Olympus VR-320 Gallery and Panasonic G9 Gallery.

When you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus VR-320 features outside dimensions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Panasonic G9 has specifications of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs).

Check the Olympus VR-320 vs Panasonic G9 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the VR-320 and the G9.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VR-320 and G9 is 94 and 62 respectively.

Quite often, it is hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions just by researching technical specs. The picture underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VR-320 and G9.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The VR-320 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic G9 will render extra detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged VR-320 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.