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Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GF2

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GF2 Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Released November 2003
  • Renewed by Olympus E-3
Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF3
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Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GF2 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus E-1 versus Panasonic GF2, former is a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and GF2 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-1 was revealed 8 years before the GF2 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-1 grades against the GF2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Panasonic GF2

 E-1 GF2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Olympus E-1

 GF2 E-1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011November 2003More modern by 88 months
Screen dimension3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution460k134kSharper screen (+326k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Panasonic GF2

 E-1 GF2 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GF2 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-1 has got external dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") and a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF2 has sizing of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-1 versus Panasonic GF2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-1 versus the GF2.

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GF2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-1 and GF2 is 59 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GF2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GF2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by looking through a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-1 and GF2.

Clearly, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Panasonic GF2 to provide you with greater detail because of its extra 7 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-1 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GF2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF2 as a Portrait photography camera
46
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
MP count low (5 megapixels)
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography advice
Panasonic GF2 Street photography advice
57
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
lighter than average (735 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
65
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GF2 Sports photography highlights
40
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
MP count low (5MP)
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery pack (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 Travel photography factors
Panasonic GF2 Travel photography factors
47
lighter than average (735g)
environment proofing
no Timelapse recording
MP count low (5MP)
display is not selfie friendly
52
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery pack (300 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography info
46
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
small screen (1.8 inch)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
MP count low (5 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (300 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging info
Panasonic GF2 Vlogging info
9
can't record video
32
has touchscreen
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GF2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Panasonic GF2
 Olympus E-1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Category Pro DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2003-11-29 2011-02-24
Physical type Large SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 2560 x 1920 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 1.8" 3"
Resolution of screen 134k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 735 grams (1.62 lb) 310 grams (0.68 lb)
Dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 54
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 506
Other
Battery life - 300 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $1,700 $330