Updated (January, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PL2 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

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
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

40

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Battery life
Great battery life
400 shots
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

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
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Lowest price Much cheaper $259.99 vs $1,125.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $865 cheaper (4.3x less)
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF1

Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 409 ms vs 820 ms
Help
2x less delay when taking photos
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1400 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
Around 40% less delay when turning on
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 400 shots vs 290 shots
Help
Around 40% more shots per battery charge
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
Size Slightly smaller 119x71x36 mm vs 115x72x42 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.4" vs 1.7"
Help
More than 10% thinner
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-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
44 vs 40
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-PL1.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Olympus PEN E-PL1 or the Panasonic DMC-GF1,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
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
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
Movie continuous focus No continous focus while recording movies Help
Requires attention to focus while recording
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
PEN E-PL1:820 ms
DMC-GF1:409 ms
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 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-GF1:12 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
PEN E-PL1:10.1 EV
DMC-GF1:10.3 EV
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
PEN E-PL1:230k dots
DMC-GF1:460k dots
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
54.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
PEN E-PL1:487 ISO
DMC-GF1:513 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $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
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
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
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Image stabilization Has better image stabilization
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker

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
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-GF1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Screen size Significantly smaller screen

appearance

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

discussion

Showing 0 comments