Updated (January, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PL2 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Olympus PEN E-PL1

38

vs
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

29
 
 
 
 

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
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Size Much smaller 115x72x42 mm vs 124x90x74 mm
Help
 2.4x smaller
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 487 ISO vs 411 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-PL1 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Thickness Much thinner 1.7" vs 2.9"
Help
 More than 40% thinner
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 54.0 vs 52.0
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 334 g vs 381 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $270.00 vs $499.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $230 cheaper (around 50% less)
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G10
Screen size Significantly 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
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
 Record movies without worrying about focus
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The DMC-G10's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Focus points Slightly more focus points 23 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G10
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
38 vs 29
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-PL1.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
0
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
10.1 EV
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
PEN E-PL1:12.2 MP
DMC-G10:12 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
PEN E-PL1:3,200 ISO
DMC-G10:6,400 ISO
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Focus points Few focus points Help
PEN E-PL1:11
DMC-G10:23
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
PEN E-PL1:230k dots
DMC-G10:460k dots
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
PEN E-PL1:3 fps
DMC-G10:2.6 fps
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
PEN E-PL1:54.0
DMC-G10:52.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
PEN E-PL1:487 ISO
DMC-G10:411 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$279 - $299 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the Lumix DMC-G10
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 with 14-42mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the Lumix DMC-G10
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$285 body only

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the Lumix DMC-G10
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 - $348 with 10-30mm lens
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Lumix DMC-G10
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$514 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
3D Captures 3D images
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-G10
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$340 - $555 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay Has significantly less startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-G10
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$799 with 14-45mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF1 vs the Lumix DMC-G10

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus
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-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$768 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-PL1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$450 with 14-45mm lens
Size Much smaller
Thickness Much thinner
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the Lumix DMC-G1 vs the Lumix DMC-G10
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 body only

$498 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-G5 vs the Lumix DMC-G10

appearance

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Bt (5:58 PM, September 21, 2011)
G10 does have anti-shake built-in to lenses