• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 160 - 12,800
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000

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Differences

Panasonic GH2 advantages over Sony A58

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Fast startup
    ~1.10 vs 1.9 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • More telephoto lens reach
    280 mm vs 83 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.71x vs 0.57x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Sony A58 advantages over Panasonic GH2

  • Less expensive
    $600 vs $1500 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 4.31 vs 3.48 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Better color depth
    23.3 vs 21.1 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    753 vs 655 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 700 vs 330 shots
    Capture more photos
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.13 vs 0.27 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    20.1 vs 16.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    4.9 fps vs 3.7 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Review Excerpt

  • Improved 20.1-megapixel resolution; Impressive image quality, especially for its price; Fast and decisive autofocus (in most conditions); Very good battery life; Good video quality (Full HD 1080p, though it doesn't support 60p frame rate).

  • Plastic lens mount; Slower burst mode speeds and shallower buffer than A57; LCD no longer fully articulating; Mediocre kit lens; Electronic instead of an optical viewfinder may be a turnoff for some.

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic GH1

Panasonic GH2
Panasonic GH1
  • $1500
  • 4/3
  • Fast startup
  • More pixels
  • $1315
  • 4/3
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Thinner
Sony A58
Panasonic GH1
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $1315
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Panasonic G2

Panasonic GH2
Panasonic G2
  • $1500
  • 4/3
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More dynamic range
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
Sony A58
Panasonic G2
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Panasonic G5

Panasonic GH2
Panasonic G5
  • $1500
  • 4/3
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Shoots 24p video
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Lighter weight
Sony A58
Panasonic G5
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Touchscreen

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Panasonic GH2
Pentax K-5 IIs
  • $1500
  • 4/3
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Shoots 24p video
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Less expensive
Sony A58
Pentax K-5 IIs
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Canon T5i

Panasonic GH2
Canon T5i
  • $1500
  • 4/3
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • More viewfinder magnification
  • $539
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Sony A58
Canon T5i
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $539
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
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