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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF1

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF1 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Announced October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Announced October 2009
  • New Model is Panasonic GF2
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF1 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic GF1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and GF1 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-500 was brought out 5 years prior to the GF1 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-500 grades versus the GF1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic GF1

 E-500 GF1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Olympus E-500

 GF1 E-500 
AnnouncedOctober 2009October 2005More modern by 48 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k215kClearer display (+245k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic GF1

 E-500 GF1 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 comes with outside measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Panasonic GF1 has dimensions of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

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Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-500 vs the GF1.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and GF1 is 70 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes purely by reviewing specifications. The pic below should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and GF1.

Plainly, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic GF1 to offer extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GF1 Portrait photography information
49
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (8MP)
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography details
Panasonic GF1 Street photography details
57
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (479g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
64
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Panasonic GF1
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
44
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
great battery life (380 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF1 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition in class (479g)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (8MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
59
great battery life (380 per charge)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GF1 as a Landscape photography camera
43
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
does not have Time Lapse recording
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (380 shots)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF1 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
25
has face detect autofocus
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic GF1
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2005-10-21 2009-10-14
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CCD 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 8 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 400 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 215k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - AVCHD Lite
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479g (1.06 lb) 385g (0.85 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 54
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.3
DXO Low light score not tested 513
Other
Battery life - 380 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/MMC
Card slots One One
Price at release $600 $400