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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX580

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX580 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Renewed by Olympus E-P2
Panasonic FX580
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FX550
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX580 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-P1 versus Panasonic FX580, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the FX580 (12MP) is relatively similar but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and FX580 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-P1 was released 7 months after the FX580 which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-P1 scores vs the FX580 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Panasonic FX580

 E-P1 FX580 
ReleasedJuly 2009January 2009More modern by 7 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX580 over the Olympus E-P1

 FX580 E-P1 

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic FX580

 E-P1 FX580 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX580 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 has exterior dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Panasonic FX580 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P1 versus Panasonic FX580 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P1 against the FX580.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX580 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and FX580 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX580 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The pic underneath will help give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and FX580.

As you can tell, the two cameras have got the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-P1 comes with the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult. The younger E-P1 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FX580 Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
26
comes with face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Panasonic FX580
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography features
Panasonic FX580 Sports photography features
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography info
Panasonic FX580 Travel photography info
43
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
58
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FX580 Landscape photography highlights
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
36
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging info
Panasonic FX580 Vlogging info
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
30
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic FX580
 Olympus PEN E-P1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FX550
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-07-29 2009-01-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $182 $499