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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G1

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 front
Portability
82
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic G1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 360g - 124 x 84 x 45mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Refreshed by Panasonic G2
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G1 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic G1, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and G1 (12MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was revealed 4 years later than the G1 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-M1 scores against the G1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic G1

 E-M1 G1 
LaunchedOctober 2013January 2009Fresher by 59 months
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic G1 over the Olympus E-M1

 G1 E-M1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic G1

 E-M1 G1 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 offers outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Panasonic G1 has proportions of 124mm x 84mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") and a weight of 360 grams (0.79 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic G1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-M1 and the G1.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and G1 is 71 and 82 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing just by reading specifications. The visual below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and G1.

To sum up, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Olympus E-M1 to deliver more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic G1 Portrait photography highlights
71
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
58
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography advice
Panasonic G1 Street photography advice
78
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
weather proofing
lighter than average (497g)
very good high ISO (25,600)
72
screen can move to multiple angles
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography features
Panasonic G1 Sports photography features
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (350 shots)
33
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography info
Panasonic G1 Travel photography info
65
lighter than average (497 grams)
weather proofing
comes with focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
bad battery life (350 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
62
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography information
Panasonic G1 Landscape photography information
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
58
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging info
Panasonic G1 Vlogging info
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic port
lighter than average (497g)
screen is not selfie friendly
18
no video
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic G1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic G1
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-10-28 2009-01-19
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII -
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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.50 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/320s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 497 grams (1.10 lb) 360 grams (0.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 124 x 84 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 53
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 21.1
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 10.3
DXO Low light score 757 463
Other
Battery life 350 photos 330 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $799 $0