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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1

Portability
71
Imaging
52
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1 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
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2007
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1 Overview

Below is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and L1 (7MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was brought out 6 years later than the L1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-M1 matches up against the L1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic L1

 E-M1 L1 
LaunchedOctober 2013April 2007More recent by 80 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k207kClearer display (+830k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Olympus E-M1

 L1 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic L1

 E-M1 L1 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 provides outside 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 L1 has measurements of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M1 compared to the L1.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and L1 is 71 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements just by researching specs. The visual below should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and L1.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus E-M1 to result in extra detail having its extra 9MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively. The younger E-M1 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Panasonic L1
71
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/320s)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
54
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low MP (7 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography highlights
Panasonic L1 Street photography highlights
77
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers focus via touch
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
58
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (606 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
Sports photography with Panasonic L1
69
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery power (350 per charge)
40
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (7 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic L1 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
environment proof
offers focus via touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
not so great battery power (350 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
50
lighter than average in class (606 grams)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
low MP (7 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography details
Panasonic L1 Landscape photography details
72
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
not so great battery power (350 per charge)
47
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5")
does not have image stabilization
low MP (7 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging features
Panasonic L1 Vlogging features
36
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic support
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
9
can't record video
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic L1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic L1
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2013-10-28 2007-04-11
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 7 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3136 x 2352
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 3
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 45
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 207k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497g (1.10 lbs) 606g (1.34 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Card slots One One
Retail price $799 $1,500