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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GF1

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GF1 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-3
Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Introduced October 2009
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF2
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GF1 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-5 versus Panasonic GF1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the GF1 (12MP) is relatively close and both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-5 was announced 16 months later than the GF1 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-5 matches up vs the GF1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Panasonic GF1

 E-5 GF1 
IntroducedFebruary 2011October 2009More recent by 16 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Olympus E-5

 GF1 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic GF1

 E-5 GF1 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GF1 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-5 comes with outer dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Panasonic GF1 has specifications of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-5 versus Panasonic GF1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-5 versus the GF1.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GF1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and GF1 is 58 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GF1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GF1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements only by viewing specifications. The graphic below might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and GF1.

To sum up, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size and the same megapixels so you should expect comparable quality of photographs but you might want to factor the release date of the cameras into account. The fresher E-5 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GF1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GF1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GF1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography info
Panasonic GF1 Street photography info
71
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
64
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GF1 Sports photography advice
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
44
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
great battery life (380 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-5
Travel photography with Panasonic GF1
56
weather proofing
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
59
great battery life (380 CIPA)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-5
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF1
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (380 shots)
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging factors
Panasonic GF1 Vlogging factors
64
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
comes with external microphone jack
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
25
has face detection focus
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GF1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic GF1
 Olympus E-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-02-03 2009-10-14
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V+ Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 23
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 grams (1.76 pounds) 385 grams (0.85 pounds)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 54
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 10.3
DXO Low light score 519 513
Other
Battery life 870 photos 380 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 -
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 SD/SDHC/MMC
Storage slots 2 1
Price at release $1,700 $400