Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF1

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).

Photography Glossary

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.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-500 Gallery and Panasonic GF1 Gallery.

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).

Check out the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic GF1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

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.

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

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.