Olympus E-510 vs. Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1: In-Depth Comparison for Photographers Navigating Micro Four Thirds Beginnings

In the late 2000s, the camera industry was at a fascinating technological crossroads. DSLRs were reigning supreme, yet mirrorless innovation was quietly gaining traction. Two cameras emblematic of this shift were the Olympus E-510 (2007) and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 (2009). Both share the Four Thirds sensor lineage, but embody very different approaches - traditional mid-sized DSLR vs. pioneering mirrorless SLR-style. Having extensively tested, field-used, and benchmarked these two models over many sessions, this article aims to unravel their respective strengths and trade-offs, providing practical advice grounded in experience for today’s discerning photography enthusiast or professional considering these legacy systems.

Let’s take a deep dive into how the E-510 and G1 stack up in real-world scenarios, ergonomic design, technical makeup, and genre-specific photographic demands.

Grasping the Cameras: Size, Form, and Handling

Ergonomics often dictate whether a camera feels like an extension of your creativity or just a weighty hindrance. Though the E-510 and G1 share a Micro Four Thirds mount lineage, their body designs are from opposite ends of design philosophy's timeline.

The Olympus E-510 sports a more traditional mid-sized DSLR body, complete with a pentamirror optical viewfinder. Olympus enhanced this model from its predecessor, the E-500, by incorporating live view and sensor-based image stabilization - a big pro in its era. The camera measures 136 x 92 x 68 mm, weighing about 490 grams. It's robust enough for serious shooting but remains portable enough for travel.

In contrast, the Panasonic G1 marks a significant jump as Panasonic’s first mirrorless camera, pioneering the Micro Four Thirds system. Physically smaller and lighter at 124 x 84 x 45 mm and 360 grams, the G1’s design is more compact and modern. It features an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage and a fully articulating 3-inch LCD, supporting live view as a native function rather than an add-on.

From first-hand handling, the E-510 feels sturdier and more traditional in the hand, ideal for photographers accustomed to DSLRs’ grip and balance. The G1’s smaller form factor is excellent for portability and street photography - though those with larger hands might find the grip less accommodating for prolonged sessions.

Control Layout and User Interface: Intuitive or Clunky?

How a camera feels under your fingers while adjusting settings mid-shoot is often overlooked in spec sheets but is critical in the field.

The E-510, true to DSLR roots, has dedicated dials and buttons for main settings - shutter speed, aperture in PASM modes, exposure compensation, and autofocus modes - arranged for quick operation without menu diving. Its top-size and weight accommodate a more substantial chassis for these controls.

Meanwhile, the G1, embracing its mirrorless innovation, offers a more stripped-down control scheme focusing on ease for amateurs but compromising some rapid access for pros. The fully articulated 3-inch LCD opens creative shooting angles but is not touch-enabled, so navigation remains button-based. The electronic viewfinder’s display is bright but can be laggy in low light, which is a minor distraction during dynamic shooting.

Subjectively, while the E-510 excels in tactile feedback and precision, the G1’s interface is intuitive for beginners or hybrid shooter-photo enthusiasts, who prefer LCD reliance over optical viewfinders.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Four Thirds Sensor Showdown

Let’s turn to the imaging heart of these cameras. Both cameras utilize Four Thirds sized CMOS sensors measuring 17.3 x 13 mm, but the G1 edges ahead slightly in sensor resolution and quality metrics.

The G1’s 12-megapixel sensor captures a bit more resolution and slightly better dynamic range. Its CMOS sensor uses contrast-detection autofocus in live view, favoring mirrorless strengths but with some compromises in speed compared to DSLR phase detection autofocus (PDAF).

The E-510’s 10-megapixel sensor, bordering on antiquated by modern standards, still produces clean images - especially benefiting from sensor-shift image stabilization built-in, effectively combating handshake at slower shutter speeds. This feature alone provides a practical usability edge, particularly in low-light or macro scenarios.

Color depth differences are marginal; both produce rich, natural hues with pleasing skin tones. The Olympus tends to render a slightly warmer palette beneficial for portraiture, while Panasonic’s output skews more neutral.

Viewfinder and Rear LCD: Optical vs. Electronic

The old optical versus new electronic viewfinder debate is alive in this comparison.

The Olympus E-510 offers a traditional pentamirror optical viewfinder with approximately 95% frame coverage and 0.46x magnification. While less bright and covering slightly less than 100%, it’s still fast and reliable with essentially zero lag - critical for fast action and sports photography.

Relative to the E-510, the Panasonic G1’s EVF has 100% coverage and displays a real-time, WYSIWYG preview. The benefit here is the EVF’s ability to display histograms, exposure warnings, and focus peaking (within firmware constraints), assisting accurate exposure and focus. However, in darker environments, the EVF can appear grainy, and some users find the colors less natural compared to optical.

On the rear, the E-510’s 2.5-inch fixed screen with 230k pixels feels cramped, whereas the G1’s 3-inch fully articulated screen at 460k pixels offers a brighter, larger, and more versatile display for varied shooting angles.

From testing, I found the G1’s screen invaluable for macro and street photography, especially when shooting from unconventional perspectives.

Autofocus Performance: Phase Detection vs. Contrast Detection

Autofocus systems can make or break shooting quickly and effectively, particularly for wildlife and sports.

The Olympus E-510 sports a 3-point PDAF system, typical for its generation. It works well in good light but can struggle to lock focus rapidly on erratically moving subjects. Importantly, it supports continuous autofocus (C-AF) for tracking, but the tracking efficiency is limited by the small number of AF points and lack of face or animal detection.

The Panasonic G1 instead leverages contrast-detection autofocus (CDAF), a hallmark of mirrorless systems at the time. It offers live view autofocus with reasonably accurate selective focusing, but continuous tracking is less impressive during fast action.

Neither camera matches the AF sophistication of modern systems with dozens or hundreds of AF points and advanced subject tracking.

Burst Shooting and Buffer Capacity

Neither camera shines in high-speed burst shooting. Both max out at 3 frames per second (fps) continuous shooting, adequate for general photography but below the needs of serious sports shooters expecting 8+ fps today.

Olympus’s DSLR design gives it a slight edge in sustained shooting without blackout, but buffer capacity is limited on both - quickly filling during RAW capture.

Lens Ecosystem Compatibility and Versatility

Both cameras use the Micro Four Thirds mount, designed to provide a balance between compactness and optical quality. However, their lens compatibility differs due to system generation.

The Olympus E-510 predates the Micro Four Thirds specification and uses the original Four Thirds lens mount, meaning it accepts Four Thirds lenses, which tend to be larger and heavier. Adapters exist, but native Micro Four Thirds lenses are not fully compatible without conversion.

The Panasonic G1 launched alongside the Micro Four Thirds system and enjoys immediate compatibility with the newer and rapidly expanding MFT lens range from multiple manufacturers - Panasonic, Olympus, Sigma, Tamron, and others. At launch, Panasonic advertised 107 native MFT lenses available, a vastly expanded ecosystem supporting everything from pancake primes to specialized telephotos.

For travel, wildlife, landscapes, and macro, the availability of lightweight, sharp MFT lenses gives the G1 an advantage - one that remains compelling today.

Environmental Resistance and Build Quality

Neither the E-510 nor the G1 boasts weather sealing or ruggedization. The E-510’s DSLR body offers good mechanical robustness, while the G1’s polycarbonate-heavy construction favors lightweight portability, meaning both deserve cautious handling in inclement weather.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery endurance is where the G1 strongly outperforms the E-510. The G1 offers approximately 330 shots per charge, leveraging efficient mirrorless design and a higher-capacity battery pack. Olympus did not publish formal battery life metrics for the E-510, but in field tests, it typically lags behind, a trait common in DSLRs due to power-hungry optical viewfinders.

On storage, the E-510 supports Compact Flash and xD Picture Cards, formats now mostly obsolete and harder to source affordably. The G1 uses widely supported SD/SDHC cards, maintaining compatibility with modern storage media.

Specialty Photography Reviews: How They Hold Up Across Genres

Having drilled into specs and handling, let’s walk through major photography genres, relying on practical experience and image results for each camera.

Portrait Photography

Portraiture demands natural skin tones, good resolution, smooth bokeh, and reliable eye detection (where available). The E-510’s warm color rendering combined with in-body stabilization aids handheld portrait shooting indoors or at lower shutter speeds. However, its 3 AF points and lack of face detection limit autofocus precision for moving subjects.

The G1, with higher resolution and more modern lens options (fast primes), can deliver sharper portraits with creamy backgrounds, especially using wide-aperture lenses. Its fully articulated screen also enables creative angles for casual portraits or self-portraits - something the E-510 cannot match.

Landscape Photography

Landscape photographers prize dynamic range, resolution, lens versatility, and weather sealing.

Both cameras perform comparably in dynamic range (around 10 EV), with the G1 slightly edging ahead, capturing subtle shadow and highlight detail.

The Olympus system’s in-body stabilization is less relevant for tripods, but slower live view focusing slows workflow.

The G1’s newer sensor and better LCD screen make framing wide vistas easier, especially under bright sunlight. The larger selection of lightweight MFT wide-angle lenses for the G1 also aids handheld landscape shooting.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Sports and wildlife demand fast, accurate autofocus and high frame rates.

The E-510’s 3-point PDAF and 3 fps speed are limiting here, as is its older AF tracking.

The G1, with contrast detection AF, does not provide rapid focus acquisition or tracking for birds-in-flight or athletes on the run.

Neither camera is ideal for serious action sports; however, the E-510’s DSLR design and optical viewfinder provide a slight advantage for responsiveness in these scenarios.

Street Photography

Compactness, discretion, low light performance, and a responsive interface matter most.

The G1’s smaller size, lighter weight, quiet electronic shutter, and articulating screen make it a better street camera. Its neutral color rendition avoids over-processing.

The E-510’s bulkier DSLR form and louder shutter draw more attention but provide a more visceral shooting experience preferred by some street shooters.

Macro Photography

Macro benefits from image stabilization, focusing precision, and screen articulation.

The E-510’s in-body stabilization aids critical sharpness in close-up shots without expensive macro tripods.

The G1’s articulated screen and lightweight lenses facilitate low-to-ground or creative angles.

Neither features specialized focus aids like focus bracketing or stacking.

Night and Astrophotography

High ISO performance, low noise, and long exposure capabilities are vital.

Both max out ISO at 1600 native (G1 allows ISO 3200 boosted), but noise rises sharply beyond 800 ISO.

The E-510’s sensor stabilization combined with tripod use allows cleaner, stable exposures.

Neither offers specialized astrophotography modes, but both support manual exposure modes essential for night shooting.

Video Capabilities

Surprisingly, neither camera offers video recording - both cameras were released before video DSLRs and mirrorless became standard.

This lack limits usability for hybrid shooters demanding multimedia functionality.

Travel and Everyday Use

For travelers, size and battery life are crucial.

The G1’s compactness, better battery life (~330 shots), and broad lens compatibility make it more travel-friendly.

The E-510’s bulk can be a burden but reward users with a traditional DSLR experience.

Connectivity and Workflow Integration

Neither camera has wireless or Bluetooth connectivity. Both rely on USB 2.0 for tethering and image transfer.

The G1 includes an HDMI output for external monitors, while the E-510 does not.

File formats supported include RAW for both, easing integration into standard professional workflows.

Final Performance Ratings and Genre Scores

After dozens of sessions with both cameras, shooting varied subjects under different conditions, we compiled a performance scoring matrix to sum up their relative merits.

Olympus E 510 front Olympus E 510 screen back Panasonic G1 screen back

Verdict: Which Camera Suits Your Needs?

Both cameras represent different milestones in Four Thirds evolution, yet their practical suitability depends on your shooting preferences.

Choose the Olympus E-510 if:

• You value a traditional DSLR handling experience with an optical viewfinder.
• You rely on sensor-based image stabilization important for handheld portraits and macro.
• You prefer warmer color rendering out of camera.
• You shoot primarily static subjects or landscapes.
• You already own Four Thirds lenses or insist on DSLR form factor.

Choose the Panasonic Lumix G1 if:

• You want a compact, lightweight mirrorless camera for travel, street, and everyday use.
• You benefit from a larger, articulated LCD screen and EVF with 100% coverage.
• You want access to a broad ecosystem of Micro Four Thirds lenses.
• You prefer slightly higher resolution and better dynamic range.
• You seek longer battery life and modern storage compatibility.

Closing Thoughts

I appreciate both cameras as products that reflect their eras’ technological advances. The Olympus E-510 offers a solid, DSLR foundation with practical stabilisation benefits, while Panasonic’s G1 laid the foundation for mirrorless systems taken for granted today. Neither is a perfect camera by current standards - autofocus and burst speed underwhelm, no video recording exists - but they remain instructive study points and good value options for collectors or niche shooters appreciating classic Four Thirds quality.

If budget permits and your workflow favors compactness, I lean slightly toward the G1. But if you treasure DSLR feel and built-in IS, the E-510 is a dependable workhorse.

Either way, consider your primary photography discipline and lens investments carefully - a crucial factor often overlooked in such legacy camera choices.

I hope this comparative exploration aids your decision-making process and inspires confidence in navigating the nuanced Micro Four Thirds landscape of the past decade. Happy shooting!