Canon 7D has a
18.0MP APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Dual Digic 4 processor. On the other hand, Panasonic G5 has a
16.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine VII FHD processor.
Below you can see the 7D and G5 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon 7D and Panasonic G5 Cameras
As seen above, Canon 7D has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Panasonic G5. 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 7D and Panasonic G5 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, 7D has scored 66, 5 points higher than G5.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Canon 7D
66
22.0 bits
11.7 Evs
854 ISO
Panasonic G5
61
21.4 bits
11.6 Evs
618 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 7D
or the
Panasonic G5 ,
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.