Canon 50D has a
15.0MP APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic 4 processor. On the other hand, Panasonic G2 has a
12.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine HD II processor.
Below you can see the 50D and G2 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon 50D and Panasonic G2 Cameras
As seen above, Canon 50D has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Panasonic G2. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Canon 50D and Panasonic G2 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, 50D has scored 63, 10 points higher than G2.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Canon 50D
63
21.8 bits
11.4 Evs
696 ISO
Panasonic G2
53
21.2 bits
10.3 Evs
493 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Canon 50D
or the
Panasonic G2 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(APS-C versus Four Thirds),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
