Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GH1

Following is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GH1, one is a Pro DSLR and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and GH1 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-1 was revealed 6 years prior to the GH1 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-1 grades versus the GH1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-1 Gallery and Panasonic GH1 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-1 offers external measurements of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") and a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Panasonic GH1 has dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic GH1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-1 compared to the GH1.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and GH1 is 59 and 81 respectively.

Generally, it's tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through a spec sheet. The image below will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-1 and GH1.

Clearly, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Panasonic GH1 to produce extra detail because of its extra 7 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged E-1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.