Olympus
PEN E-PL1
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-G2

Updated (May, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PL2 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

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-G2

39

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone

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
Size Much smaller 115x72x42 mm vs 124x90x74 mm
Help
 2.4x smaller
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
Lowest price Cheaper $259.99 vs $614.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $355 cheaper (2.4x less)
Weight Lighter 334 g vs 416 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G2
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1000 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
 2.2x less delay when turning on
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 423 ms vs 820 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
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
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 390 shots vs 290 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The DMC-G2's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Focus points 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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.3 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
44 vs 39
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-PL1.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
External mic jack You can plug a microphone into both of these Help
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
60 seconds
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
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
PEN E-PL1:820 ms
DMC-G2:423 ms
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-G2:12 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
PEN E-PL1:10.1 EV
DMC-G2:10.3 EV
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
PEN E-PL1:230k dots
DMC-G2:460k dots
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
PEN E-PL1:54.0
DMC-G2:53.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
PEN E-PL1:487 ISO
DMC-G2:493 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
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-G2
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
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Lumix DMC-G2
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
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-G2
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
Compare the D3100 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the D3100 vs the Lumix DMC-G2

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL1
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
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PL1
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
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Battery life Shorter battery life
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GH2 vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Samsung NX11

Samsung NX11

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$619 - $725 with 18-55mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Color depth Better color depth
Touch screen No touch screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the NX11 vs the Lumix DMC-G2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$330 with 14-42mm lens
Lowest price Cheaper
Weight Lighter
Touch screen No touch screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the Lumix DMC-G10 vs the Lumix DMC-G2

appearance

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

discussion

Showing 1 comments

AccidentalEye (7:30 AM, December 06, 2011)
I have both these cameras and they are both very nice performers. The panny DMC-G2 excels at iso100 / iso200 and has lots of IQ like touch-screen which allows to set focus + shoot in a single finger press on the live view. Additionally, all the important controls are nicely layed out into buttons or knobs. Finally one thing which I really, really like is that the panny 99% the same UI on the EVF as the Live View finder. This means that I can work using the EVF, making on the spot adjustments without ever needing to take my eye off the picture. By contrast on DSLRs, not only do I need to take my eye off the EVF as it does not show anything beyond basic information, but additionally, I need to put on my glasses as the Live View does not have a diopter :-). One final and great thing is that the Panasonic corrects "in-camera" the chromatic aberrations of panny lenses and it does a much better job than what lightroom can do when correcting using lens profiles.

As to the Olympus, it does not have as many knobs as the panny, but it is a great camera and the navigation through the menus is comfortable once you get used to it. It does not have EVF, but for all its shortcomings it has a much better low light behavior than the panny. I can easily take pictures with the olympus at iso 1250 or even iso1600 without incurring much noise.  I also read on dpreview that the olympus has a very good jpg engine, which is not very relevant for me as I shoot everything in raw, but nevertheless it comes in handy when my wife picks up the camera. As to the color, I have noticed that in raw at least the panny is much more accurate in color. The olympus needs some adjustment using colorchecker passport.