Updated (January, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot G10 vs Olympus PEN E-PL2

Canon PowerShot G10

51

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G10

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
True resolution
High true resolution
14.6 MP
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Tunnel
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
External flash
External flash
Better lighting
Olympus PEN E-PL1

33

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed
External flash
External flash
Better lighting
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Canon G10

Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 461k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.6 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Tunnel vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Canon PowerShot G10 Learn more about
the Canon G10

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Overall image quality Better image quality 54.0 vs 37.0
Help
Around 50% better image quality
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Movie format Higher resolution movies 720p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution HD (720p) video
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 19 bits
Help
Distinguishes 2.5 more bits of color
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
More than 5.5x larger sensor
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 487 ISO vs 156 ISO
Help
The PEN E-PL1 has excellent image quality 1.6 f-stops higher ISO than the G10
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3 fps vs 0.7 fps
Help
Around 4.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The PEN E-PL1's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
4x longer exposures
Size Slightly smaller 115x72x42 mm vs 109x78x46 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Weight Slightly lighter 334 g vs 390 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.7" vs 1.8"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G10 Canon PowerShot G10
51 vs 33
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G10. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro digicam with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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by trixie-bird last week
Olympus PEN E-PL1 vs Panasonic DMC-GF2

Intermediate.  Want to take pictures or people and landscapes.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
G10:10 EV
PEN E-PL1:10.1 EV
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
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Movie format Poor movies Help
G10:480p @ 30fps
PEN E-PL1:720p @ 30fps
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
G10:37.0
PEN E-PL1:54.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500

Aperture Has a much wider aperture
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker

Canon PowerShot G10 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Size Larger
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam

$672

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen size Smaller screen
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Canon PowerShot G9

Canon PowerShot G9

Pro digicam

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Slightly smaller
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Pro digicam

$249

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Macro focus Worse macro capability

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$589 - $600 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Image stabilization No image stabilization

appearance

Canon PowerShot G10 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Canon PowerShot G10 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Canon PowerShot G10 Olympus PEN E-PL1

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