Olympus PEN E-PL2 vs Panasonic DMC-G1

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Shoots movies

720p @ 30fps

None

Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures

Image stabilization

Sensor shift

None

Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements

Video autofocus

Contrast detection

None

Automatically focuses shooting video

Lower noise at high ISO

573 ISO

463 ISO

The PEN E-PL2 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance

Better maximum light sensitivity

6,400 ISO

1,600 ISO

The PEN E-PL2's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better

Better color depth

21.4 bits

21.1 bits

Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color

Slightly better image quality

55.0

53.0

Almost the same

Smaller

115x72x42 mm

124x84x45 mm

More than 20% smaller

Lighter

362 g

430 g

Around 20% lighter

Thinner

1.7"

1.8"

Around 10% thinner

Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G1

Has a viewfinder

Digital

None

A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off

Has boost ISO

3,200 ISO

None

Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image

Slightly larger sensor

Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm

Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm

Around 10% larger sensor

Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G1

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-PL2

49	vs	33
Explain scores

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-PL2.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the Olympus PEN E-PL2 or the Panasonic DMC-G1,

For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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votes

by hardi last month

Canon G1X vs Olympus PEN E-PL2

Travel, general photography

beginner, easy to carry, fast focus

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Inexpensive

PEN E-PL2:	$484.99
DMC-G1:	$489.90

	Long exposures
	60 seconds

	Each has a built-in flash
	External flash not needed

One has boost ISO

PEN E-PL2:	None
DMC-G1:	3,200 ISO

	Neither camera can take 3D photos
	No 3d support

	Neither camera stitches together panoramas
	You could stitch photos in post

Capture low resolution images

PEN E-PL2:	12.2 MP
DMC-G1:	12 MP

	Neither has in-camera HDR
	You could do HDR manually

One shoots movies

PEN E-PL2:	720p @ 30fps
DMC-G1:	None

	No flip-out screens
	Less flexible

	No touchscreens
	More buttons

Poor dynamic range

PEN E-PL2:	10.2 EV
DMC-G1:	10.3 EV

	Low resolution screens
	460k dots

Low image quality

PEN E-PL2:	55.0
DMC-G1:	53.0

dxomark

competitors

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Is slightly less expensive

Has a slower max shutter speed

Doesn't focus continuously while recording movies

Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-PL2

Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Records higher quality movies

Has a touch screen

Doesn't support an external flash

Has significantly more startup delay

Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL2

Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Records higher quality movies

Has a touch screen

Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-PL2

Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Is slightly less noisy at high ISO

Records higher quality movies

Significantly shorter exposures

Doesn't have a built-in flash

Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PEN E-PL2

Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Records higher quality movies

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Is thicker

Is slightly larger

Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the PEN E-PL2

Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Has better image stabilization

Has slightly wider dynamic range

Much shorter exposures

Is thicker

Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PEN E-PL2

Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Records higher quality movies

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PEN E-PL2

Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$589 - $600 with 14-42mm lens

Higher resolution movies

Has a flip-out screen

Slightly more noise at high ISO

Worse color depth

Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-P2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$480 with 17mm lens

Better color depth

More dynamic range

Lower resolution screen

Slightly more noise at high ISO

Compare the PEN E-P2 vs the PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Higher resolution movies

Can create panoramas in-camera

Slightly more noise at high ISO

Worse color depth

Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL2

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

Records high-speed movies

Higher resolution movies

No image stabilization

More noise at high ISO

Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PL2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$330 with 14-42mm lens

Shoots movies

Video autofocus

Much larger

Slightly more noise at high ISO

Compare the Lumix DMC-G10 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens

Shoots movies

Video autofocus

Much larger

Much thicker

Compare the Lumix DMC-GH2 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

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OlympusPEN E-PL2 vs Panasonic LumixDMC-G1

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G1

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

advice

Need help deciding?

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

dxomark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Canon PowerShot G12

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Olympus PEN E-PL2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN E-P2

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Nikon 1 J1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

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discussion

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Olympus
PEN E-PL2
vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-G1