Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FH6

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-P1 versus Panasonic FH6, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the FH6 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and FH6 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-P1 was released 3 years before the FH6 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH6 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-P1 scores vs the FH6 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-P1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-P1 Gallery and Panasonic FH6 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-P1 has got external measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Panasonic FH6 has specifications of 96mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P1 versus Panasonic FH6 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-P1 versus the FH6.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and FH6 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by looking at specs. The picture below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and FH6.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic FH6 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.