Olympus
PEN E-P2
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF1

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

Olympus PEN E-P2

51

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P2

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

45

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1400 ms startup delay
Battery life
 Great battery life
400 shots
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light

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 21.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 56.0 vs 54.0
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $449.99 vs $999.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $550 cheaper (2.2x less)
Olympus PEN E-P2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P2

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF1
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
Weight Slightly lighter 330 g vs 355 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-P2
51 vs 45
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-P2.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

OlympusPEN E-P2
 Olympus PEN E-P2 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
PanasonicLumix DMC-GF1
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
2
3
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
3
2
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
2
2
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
2
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
3
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
3
1
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
3
1
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
26 lenses
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
60 seconds
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
PEN E-P2:12.2 MP
DMC-GF1:12 MP
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
PEN E-P2:10.4 EV
DMC-GF1:10.3 EV
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
PEN E-P2:230k dots
DMC-GF1:460k dots

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$754 body only

$916 - $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
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 - $379 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 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
Lens availability Significantly fewer lenses available
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$449 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$700 body only

$439 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$899 - $900 with 17mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,189 - $1,419
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1

Olympus PEN E-P2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$279 body only

$390 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Lowest price Cheaper
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$699 - $700 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 Worse image quality
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-P2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1.

appearance

Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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