Olympus
PEN E-PL1
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-G1

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

Olympus PEN E-PL1

48

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
Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
26 lenses
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

37

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
26 lenses
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds

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
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
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 21.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 487 ISO vs 463 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-PL1 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
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
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 54.0 vs 53.0
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 334 g vs 430 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $279.90 vs $499.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $220 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Thickness Slightly 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
Help
 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
48 vs 37
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-PL1.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

OlympusPEN E-PL1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
PanasonicLumix DMC-G1
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
0
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Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
0
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Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
0
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
0
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
0
0
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
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
PEN E-PL1:$279.90
DMC-G1:$499.99
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
60 seconds
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
PEN E-PL1:3,200 ISO
DMC-G1:1,600 ISO
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Movie format One shoots movies Help
PEN E-PL1:720p @ 30fps
DMC-G1:None
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
PEN E-PL1:12.2 MP
DMC-G1:12 MP
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
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
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 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
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$389 - $500
Image stabilization Has better image stabilization
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$642 - $649 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-G2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-G2 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$279 body only

$390 with 14-42mm lens
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 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
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Lumix DMC-G1
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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$449 with 14-42mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Startup delay Much less startup delay
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$449 - $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
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$699 - $700 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
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $548 with 16mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Lens availability Significantly fewer lenses available
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the PEN E-PL1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$549 body only
Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Sensor size Slightly smaller sensor
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$550 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Size Significantly larger
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Compare the Lumix DMC-G10 vs the Lumix DMC-G1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$754 body only

$916 - $964 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-G1

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

Find similar cameras

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discussion Which do you think is better?

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