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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
50
Features
57
Overall
52

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Released October 2013
  • New Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH2
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and GH1 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was released 4 years after the GH1 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-M1 scores against the GH1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic GH1

 E-M1 GH1 
ReleasedOctober 2013July 2009More modern by 53 months
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Olympus E-M1

 GH1 E-M1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic GH1

 E-M1 GH1 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys outer measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Panasonic GH1 has sizing of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 and the GH1.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and GH1 is 71 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes simply by checking specifications. The image here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and GH1.

To sum up, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Olympus E-M1 to give extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography features
Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography features
71
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/320s)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
environment proof
lighter than competitors in class (497 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
72
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
Sports photography with Panasonic GH1
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery power (350 per charge)
33
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (320 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors in class (497g)
environment proof
provides touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
low battery power (350 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
58
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (320 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Landscape photography camera
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
low battery power (350 shots)
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (320 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging info
Panasonic GH1 Vlogging info
36
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone jack
lighter than competitors in class (497 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
72
selfie friendly display
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone socket
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic GH1
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2013-10-28 2009-07-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 273.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 1.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lbs) 385 grams (0.85 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 64
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 21.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 11.6
DXO Low light score 757 772
Other
Battery life 350 shots 320 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $799 $949