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Panasonic G9 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Comparison

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Panasonic G9

20 MP | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) CMOS Sensor

Panasonic G9
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS

12 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) CMOS Sensor

Olympus XZ-2 iHS
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Panasonic G9 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Panasonic G9, which was introduced in November 2017 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 20.0MP Four Thirds sensor whereas Olympus XZ-2 iHS, which was introduced in December 2012 is a Small Sensor Compact camera with a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch sensor. As you can see, XZ-2 iHS is 5 years older than G9. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Comparing an interchangeble lens camera to a fixed lens camera is a bit tricky but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Panasonic G9 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic G9 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-11-08
  • 20MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 200 - 25600 ( expands to 100)
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 3680k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 20.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 180fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 658g. 137 x 97 x 92 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-12-18
  • 12MP - 1/1.7-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 346g. 113 x 65 x 48 mm

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Panasonic G9 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 over Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs Eye-Fi Connected Better connectivity
Viewfinder
Electronic vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 12 MP 66% more pixels
Max ISO
25.600 vs 12.800 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
225 vs 35 190 more focus points
LCD Resolution
1.040k dots vs 920k dots 13% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
400 shots vs 340 shots 60 more frames with a single charge
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Sensor Pixel Area
11.16µm2 vs 3.52µm2 217% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Full-size HDMI Port
Yes vs No Use standard HDMI cables without adapters
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes (80.0MP) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
4K Photo Mode
Yes vs No Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
6K Photo Mode
Yes vs No Extract 18MP photos from Video footage
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Focus Bracketing
Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Focus Stacking
Yes vs No Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Post Focus Mode
Yes vs No Change focus point after taking a shot
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
USB Version
USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
Animal Eye AF Tracking
Yes vs No Easily lock and track focus on animals
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam
CHECK G9 PRICE


Reasons to choose Olympus XZ-2 iHS over Panasonic Lumix DC-G9
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Internal Storage
55 MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Weight
346 g vs 658 g 312 g lighter
Built-in ND Filter
Yes vs No Use larger aperture under strong light
CHECK XZ-2 iHS PRICE

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Tilting Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Microphone Port
Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Panasonic G9 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Panasonic G9 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic G9 has external dimensions of 137 x 97 x 92 mm (5.39 x 3.82 x 3.62″) and weighs 658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz) (including batteries). Olympus XZ-2 iHS has external dimensions of 113 x 65 x 48 mm (4.45 x 2.56 x 1.89″) and weighs 346 g (0.76 lb / 12.20 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Panasonic G9 and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS. Olympus XZ-2 iHS is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 24mm narrower, 32mm shorter and 44mm thinner than Panasonic G9. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a built-in lens but Panasonic G9 doesn't. Once you put a lens on G9, its thickness will increase significantly.

Panasonic G9 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Panasonic G9 and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic G9 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS.
Panasonic G9 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Panasonic G9 and the the Olympus XZ-2 iHS Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Olympus XZ-2 iHS is significantly lighter (312g ) than the Panasonic G9 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on G9, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

With its weather-sealed body, we believe that the G9 has a big advantage over the XZ-2 iHS which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic G9 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS features a Tilting-only screen which is mostly only good for shooting from waist or over-the-head levels. On the other hand, Panasonic G9 sports a Fully Articulated screen which is more flexible and useful, especially for taking selfies and video.


Panasonic G9 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic G9 has a 20.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Panasonic G9's sensor provides 8MP more than Olympus XZ-2 iHS's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Panasonic G9's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moiré occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the G9 and XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison.

Panasonic G9 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic G9 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Cameras


As seen above, Panasonic G9 has a 5.4x Larger sensor area than Olympus XZ-2 iHS. 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.

What types of Photography are Panasonic G9 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic G9 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic G9 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Check the Best Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic G9 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Check the Best Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Street Photography
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Panasonic G9 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 20.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
225 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Read the details

Check the Best Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Sports Photography
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
35 Focus Points
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
112 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Panasonic G9 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
658g
Body Thickness 92mm
Read the details
Compact Body
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
346g
Body Thickness 48mm
Read the details

Panasonic G9 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Check the Best Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Panasonic G9 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic G9 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic G9 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS scores compare:

Panasonic G9
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #57 out of 114 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #83 out of 1268 in all Cameras
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #8 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #297 out of 1268 in all Cameras

Panasonic G9 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Olympus XZ-2 iHS in all criteria except one: Portability. Olympus XZ-2 iHS is significantly smaller than Panasonic G9. If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Olympus XZ-2 iHS. Otherwise, Panasonic G9 is the better camera overall.

Panasonic G9
Panasonic G9
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic G9 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Brand Panasonic Olympus
Announced 2017-11-08 2012-12-18
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Four Thirds 1/1.7-inch
Dimensions 17.3 x 13 mm 7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area 224.90mm2 41.52mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 5184 x 3888 3968 x 2976
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 200 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 100 ISO -
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 225 35
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens Focal Range no lens 28-112 mm (4x)
Max Aperture no lens F1.8-2.5
Macro Focus Range no lens 1cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder Resolution 3,680k dots no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100% n/a
Viewfinder Magnification 0.83x n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/2000s
Max Electronic Shutter 1/32000s n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range no built-in flash 8.60 m (ISO 800)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 20.0 fps n/a
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 658g 346g
Dimensions 137 x 97 x 92mm 113 x 65 x 48mm
Battery Life 400 shots 340 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 49
DxO Color Depth not tested 20.4
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 11.3
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 216
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