Updated (January, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PL2 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

44

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
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

33

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1

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
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 21.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Size Smaller 115x72x42 mm vs 124x84x45 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
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
Weight Lighter 334 g vs 430 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $259.99 vs $489.90
Help
The best price we've seen is $230 cheaper (around 50% less)
Thickness Thinner 1.7" vs 1.8"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G1

Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
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
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
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2x faster max shutter speed
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.3 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
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-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
44 vs 33
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-PL1.

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 mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
PEN E-PL1:$259.99
DMC-G1:$489.90
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
60 seconds
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
PEN E-PL1: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-PL1:3,200 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-PL1:12.2 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-PL1:720p @ 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-PL1:10.1 EV
DMC-G1:10.3 EV
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
PEN E-PL1:230k dots
DMC-G1:460k dots
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
PEN E-PL1:54.0
DMC-G1:53.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
PEN E-PL1:487 ISO
DMC-G1:463 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Startup delay Has much less startup delay
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
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
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
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
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Image stabilization Has better image stabilization
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
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
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,125 with 14-45mm lens

Startup delay Has much less startup delay
Shutter lag Has much less shutter lag
Lowest price Is much more expensive
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is significantly 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-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$589 - $600 with 14-42mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Screen size Much larger screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$184 body only

$375 with 17mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth

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-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-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

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