Panasonic GH2 vs Pentax P80

Lets take a more detailed look at the Panasonic GH2 versus Pentax P80, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the GH2 (16MP) and P80 (12MP) and the GH2 (Four Thirds) and P80 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The GH2 was brought out 20 months later than the P80 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the GH2 matches up vs the P80 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 and Pentax Optio P80. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic GH2 Gallery and Pentax P80 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH2 features outer dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") and a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) while the Pentax P80 has dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH2 versus Pentax P80 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the GH2 and the P80.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GH2 and P80 is 70 and 95 respectively.

Typically, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing simply by reading through specifications. The graphic below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the GH2 and P80.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GH2 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic GH2 will give extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The fresher GH2 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.