Olympus E-30 vs Panasonic GM1

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic GM1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and GM1 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-30 was released 5 years before the GM1 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic GM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-30 matches up versus the GM1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-30 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-30 Gallery and Panasonic GM1 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 enjoys physical dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GM1 has proportions of 99mm x 55mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") with a weight of 204 grams (0.45 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-30 versus Panasonic GM1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the E-30 against the GM1.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and GM1 is 60 and 93 respectively.

Often, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements only by researching technical specs. The visual underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and GM1.

As you can tell, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Panasonic GM1 to render greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The older E-30 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.