Nikon
D7000
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GH2

Updated (February, 2013): Compare the Nikon D7100 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Nikon D7000

87

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

38

  
Winner

Nikon D7000

Reasons to buy the Nikon D7000

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.9 EV
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Battery life
 Great battery life
1050 shots
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 124x90x76 mm
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D7000
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 80.0 vs 60.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Battery life Much longer battery life 1050 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 More than 3x more shots per battery charge
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
 6.5x more lenses available
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.9 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 2.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.3 more bits of color
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1100 ms
Help
 2.7x less delay when turning on
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 More than 60% larger sensor
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,167 ISO vs 655 ISO
Help
 The D7000 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 0
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Focus points More focus points 39 vs 23
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentaprism vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Lowest price Cheaper $896.95 vs $2,199.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,302 cheaper (2.5x less)
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The D7000's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 6 fps vs 5 fps
Help
 20% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D7000 Learn more about
the Nikon D7000

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GH2
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Size Smaller 124x90x76 mm vs 132x105x77 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 444 g vs 780 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GH2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D7000 Nikon D7000
87 vs 38
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D7000. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
External mic jack You can plug a microphone into both of these Help
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
D7000:16.1 MP
DMC-GH2:15.9 MP
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D7000:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
DMC-GH2:Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D7000:Pentaprism
DMC-GH2:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
D7000:1/8000s
DMC-GH2:1/4000s
Thickness Quite thick Help
3"
Weight Heavy Help
D7000:780 g
DMC-GH2:444 g
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Size Large Help
D7000:132x105x77 mm
DMC-GH2:124x90x76 mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Weight Is significantly heavier
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D7000
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Lumix DMC-GH2
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Cross type focus points Has slightly more cross-type focus points
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D7000
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Lumix DMC-GH2
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the D7000
Compare the D5100 vs the Lumix DMC-GH2
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D7000
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the Lumix DMC-GH2
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D7000
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the Lumix DMC-GH2
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D7000
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Lumix DMC-GH2
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$692 - $699 body only

$819 - $829 with 18-55mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Weight Is significantly heavier
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the K-5 vs the D7000
Compare the K-5 vs the Lumix DMC-GH2

Nikon D7000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Screen size Larger screen
Battery life Shorter battery life
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the D7100 vs the D7000
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Compare the D5200 vs the D7000
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Weight Lighter
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Weather sealed No weather sealing
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D90 vs the D7000
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,200 - $1,697 body only

$2,227 with 85mm lens
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points
Focus points More focus points
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the D300S vs the D7000

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,298 body only

$2,599 with 12-35mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-GH3 vs the Lumix DMC-GH2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$498 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Lumix DMC-G5 vs the Lumix DMC-GH2
Panasonic Lumix G6

Panasonic Lumix G6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$749 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Size Slightly smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Lumix G6 vs the Lumix DMC-GH2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$900 body only
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Color depth Better color depth
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-GH1 vs the Lumix DMC-GH2

appearance

Nikon D7000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Nikon D7000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Nikon D7000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

discussion

Showing 2 comments

CarolStee (10:51 PM, March 01, 2011)
Other reasons for considering the GH2 over the D7000: The GH2's body weighs 10.5 oz. less than the D7000's and M4/3rds lenses are also small and light, so it's less of a burden to carry it around, especially when you have several extra lenses with you. The GH2's EVF shows you what the sensor is recording so if the white balance is wrong or the light is dim, you'll know it before you take a picture, which is not the case with the OVF on the D7000 where you're looking through the lens. And since there is no mirror that slaps up and down when you take a picture there is less vibration, which means you can take sharp pictures at low shutter speeds. Read this review of the GH2:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/panasonic_gh2_revisited.shtml
 
Avatar for fredphoesh fredphoesh (3:46 PM, February 28, 2011)
Reasons I am considering the GH2 over the D7000
1/ much faster response, focusing is unrivalled
2/ 30 mins 1080 recording time (120 mins OUTSIDE of the control freaky EU)
3/ flip out screen (good for shooting clandestine street stuff)