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Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V

Portability
70
Imaging
50
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
37
Overall
37

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V Key Specs

Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Introduced March 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH1
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH3
Sony HX7V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released July 2011
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Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the GH2 (16MP) and the HX7V (16MP) is relatively close but the GH2 (Four Thirds) and HX7V (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The GH2 was revealed 3 months earlier than the HX7V so they are of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX7V being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the GH2 matches up versus the HX7V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Sony HX7V

 GH2 HX7V 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Panasonic GH2

 HX7V GH2 
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Sony HX7V

 GH2 HX7V 
ReleasedMarch 2011July 2011Same age
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH2 has outside dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") and a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) and the Sony HX7V has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the GH2 compared to the HX7V.

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GH2 and HX7V is 70 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specs. The pic underneath will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH2 and HX7V.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor dimensions. The GH2 includes the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF easier.

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography features
Sony HX7V Portrait photography features
70
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
29
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Street photography info
Sony HX7V Street photography info
67
screen articulates fully
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Sports photography information
Sony HX7V Sports photography information
46
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (330 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography factors
Sony HX7V Travel photography factors
62
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse function
bad battery life (330 per charge)
67
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography info
Sony HX7V Landscape photography info
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
bad battery life (330 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
42
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX7V as a Vlogging camera
71
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic socket
no image stabilization
32
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic socket
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Panasonic GH2 vs Sony HX7V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Sony HX7V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-03-23 2011-07-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 160 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 15.60 m 4.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 442g (0.97 pounds) 208g (0.46 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 60 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 655 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $1,000 $499