Olympus XZ-1 vs Panasonic G9

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic G9, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the XZ-1 (10MP) and G9 (20MP) and the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and G9 (Four Thirds) offer different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-1 was manufactured 7 years prior to the G9 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the XZ-1 grades versus the G9 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus XZ-1 & Panasonic Lumix DC-G9. The entire galleries are available at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery & Panasonic G9 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus XZ-1 has got outside measurements 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 G9 has specifications of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") and a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic G9 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the XZ-1 versus the G9.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-1 and G9 is 88 and 62 respectively.

Generally, it's tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The picture below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-1 and G9.

As you have seen, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The XZ-1 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh harder and the Panasonic G9 will result in extra detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images more aggressively. The more aged XZ-1 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.