Olympus
PEN E-PL1
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF2

Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PL2 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

51

  
Olympus PEN E-PL1

41

  

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PL1

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
 

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
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF2
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
 Record movies without worrying about focus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 1000 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
 2.2x less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 337 ms vs 820 ms
Help
 2.4x less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The DMC-GF2's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Focus points Slightly more focus points 23 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Size Smaller 113x68x33 mm vs 115x72x42 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.3 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.7"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 300 shots vs 290 shots
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 310 g vs 334 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
41 vs 51
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2.

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
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
PEN E-PL1:10.1 EV
DMC-GF2:10.3 EV
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
PEN E-PL1:12.2 MP
DMC-GF2:12 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
PEN E-PL1:3,200 ISO
DMC-GF2:6,400 ISO
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
0
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
PEN E-PL1:290 shots
DMC-GF2:300 shots
Focus points Few focus points Help
PEN E-PL1:11
DMC-GF2:23
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
PEN E-PL1:3 fps
DMC-GF2:3.2 fps
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
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-GF2:506 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$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
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$514 with 14-42mm lens
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$397 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
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-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,100 with 14-45mm lens
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$285 body only

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$829 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
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-PL1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Longer battery life
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2

appearance

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

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