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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 front
Portability
82
Imaging
46
Features
50
Overall
47

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Bump to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Announced October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Later Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic G1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 360g - 124 x 84 x 45mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Later Model is Panasonic G2
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and G1 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-500 was unveiled 4 years prior to the G1 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic G1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-500 grades against the G1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic G1

 E-500 G1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G1 over the Olympus E-500

 G1 E-500 
ReleasedJanuary 2009October 2005More recent by 39 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k215kCrisper display (+245k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic G1

 E-500 G1 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-500 has got physical measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Panasonic G1 has proportions of 124mm x 84mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 360 grams (0.79 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-500 and the G1.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and G1 is 70 and 82 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by checking specifications. The visual underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and G1.

To sum up, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic G1 to give you extra detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Panasonic G1
48
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
57
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic G1 as a Street photography camera
56
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (479 grams)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
72
screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic G1 as a Sports photography camera
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
33
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography details
Panasonic G1 Travel photography details
52
lighter than competition (479 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
62
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic G1 Landscape photography factors
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
maximum ISO low (400)
does not have Time Lapse mode
57
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging features
Panasonic G1 Vlogging features
9
no video shooting
18
no video
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic G1
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Also referred to as EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2005-10-21 2009-01-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 215 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 grams (1.06 pounds) 360 grams (0.79 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 124 x 84 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 53
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.3
DXO Low light score not tested 463
Other
Battery life - 330 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $600 $0