Olympus PEN E-P1

47

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P1

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Thickness
Thin
1.4"
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

33

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P1

Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 536 ISO vs 463 ISO
Help
The PEN E-P1 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Size Smaller 121x70x36 mm vs 124x84x45 mm
Help
More than 30% smaller
Color depth Better color depth 21.4 bits vs 21.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 55.0 vs 53.0
Help
Almost the same
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The PEN E-P1's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Thickness Thinner 1.4" vs 1.8"
Help
20% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $184.49 vs $489.90
Help
The best price we've seen is $305 cheaper (2.7x less)
Weight Lighter 355 g vs 430 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Olympus PEN E-P1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G1

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 3,200 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-P1
47 vs 33
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-P1.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
PEN E-P1:$184.49
DMC-G1:$489.90
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
60 seconds
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
PEN E-P1:None
DMC-G1:3,200 ISO
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
PEN E-P1:3,200 ISO
DMC-G1:1,600 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
PEN E-P1:12.2 MP
DMC-G1:12 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Movie format One shoots movies Help
PEN E-P1:720p @ 30fps
DMC-G1:None
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
PEN E-P1:10.4 EV
DMC-G1:10.3 EV
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
PEN E-P1:230k dots
DMC-G1:460k dots
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
PEN E-P1:55.0
DMC-G1:53.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,000 - $1,299 body only

$1,100 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive

Olympus PEN E-P1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-P2

Olympus PEN E-P2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$480 with 17mm lens

Color depth Better color depth
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Lowest price More expensive
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
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 flips out Has a flip-out screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Color depth Worse color depth
Sensor size Slightly smaller sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$615 - $642 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$330 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Size Much larger
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,125 with 14-45mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Lowest price Significantly more expensive
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker

appearance

Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

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