Olympus XZ-1 vs Panasonic G5

Following is a thorough overview of the Olympus XZ-1 versus Panasonic G5, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the XZ-1 (10MP) and G5 (16MP) and the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and G5 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The XZ-1 was unveiled 17 months earlier than the G5 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the XZ-1 grades against the G5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5. The full galleries are available at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery and Panasonic G5 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and size. The Olympus XZ-1 features outer dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) and the Panasonic G5 has specifications of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") along with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus XZ-1 versus Panasonic G5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the XZ-1 vs the G5.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the XZ-1 and G5 is 88 and 74 respectively.

Generally, it is very tough to see the difference between sensor sizes only by reading specifications. The image here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-1 and G5.

To sum up, both of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The XZ-1 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Panasonic G5 will offer greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged XZ-1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.