Olympus XZ-1 vs Panasonic G100

The following is a thorough analysis of the Olympus XZ-1 versus Panasonic G100, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the XZ-1 (10MP) and G100 (20MP) and the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and G100 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-1 was revealed 10 years prior to the G100 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G100 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the XZ-1 scores against the G100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic Lumix DC-G100. The full galleries are available at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery and Panasonic G100 Gallery.

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-1 enjoys exterior dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) whilst the Panasonic G100 has sizing of 116mm x 83mm x 54mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 2.1") having a weight of 352 grams (0.78 lbs).

Examine the Olympus XZ-1 versus Panasonic G100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the XZ-1 against the G100.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-1 and G100 is 88 and 81 respectively.

Typically, it's hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The image underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-1 and G100.

Clearly, both of those cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-1 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Panasonic G100 will offer more detail because of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged XZ-1 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.