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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX78

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX78 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
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P2
Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FX77
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX78 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-P1 versus Panasonic FX78, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the FX78 (12MP) is pretty similar but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and FX78 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was launched 18 months before the FX78 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-P1 scores versus the FX78 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Panasonic FX78

 E-P1 FX78 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Olympus E-P1

 FX78 E-P1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011July 2009More recent by 18 months
Screen dimensions3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic FX78

 E-P1 FX78 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX78 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 features outer 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 FX78 has sizing of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P1 versus Panasonic FX78 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-P1 against the FX78.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX78 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and FX78 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX78 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX78 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by reviewing specifications. The photograph below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and FX78.

To sum up, both of the cameras provide the same MP albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-P1 comes with the bigger sensor which should make achieving bokeh less difficult. The older E-P1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX78 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography details
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
21
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
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 FX78
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FX78 as a Sports photography camera
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
no phase detect AF
28
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,400s)
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
Travel photography with Panasonic FX78
43
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
56
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FX78 Landscape photography info
60
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
36
relatively wide (24mm)
very good size screen (3.5 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
Vlogging with Panasonic FX78
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
33
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic FX78 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic FX78
 Olympus PEN E-P1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FX77
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-07-29 2011-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
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 - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3.5 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1400 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 lbs) 142g (0.31 lbs)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 200 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $182 $210