Updated (November, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-P3 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

61

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Olympus PEN E-P2

47

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P2

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P2

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Thickness
Thin
1.4"
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P2

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 20.8 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
Around 10% larger sensor
Lowest price Cheaper $479.95 vs $642.80
Help
The best price we've seen is $163 cheaper (around 30% less)
Thickness Thinner 1.4" vs 1.5"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Olympus PEN E-P2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P2

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GX1

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 60fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 703 ISO vs 505 ISO
Help
The DMC-GX1 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The DMC-GX1's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.8 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture around 30% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.6 EV vs 10.4 EV
Help
0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Weight Lighter 318 g vs 355 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GX1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-P2
47 vs 61
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
60 seconds
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
PEN E-P2:10.4 EV
DMC-GX1:10.6 EV
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
PEN E-P2:230k dots
DMC-GX1:460k dots

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens

Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
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

Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Image stabilization Has better image stabilization
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker

Olympus PEN E-P2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens

Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Color depth Worse color depth
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$184 body only

$375 with 17mm lens

Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Lowest price Cheaper
Color depth Worse color depth
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
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Screen size Much smaller screen
Overall image quality Slightly 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 Worse image quality

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Interchangeable lenses Built-in lens only
Touch screen No touch screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$755 - $964 body only

$803 with 14-42mm lens

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Battery life Longer battery life
True resolution Lower true resolution
External flash No external flash support
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Much better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Touch screen No touch screen
Lens availability Fewer lenses available

appearance

Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

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