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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5 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
  • Released July 2009
  • Renewed by Olympus E-P2
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF6
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is fairly well matched and they possess the same exact sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-P1 was announced 3 years earlier than the GF5 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-P1 scores against the GF5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Panasonic GF5

 E-P1 GF5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus E-P1

 GF5 E-P1 
AnnouncedApril 2012July 2009More modern by 32 months
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GF5

 E-P1 GF5 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 has got outer measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Panasonic GF5 has sizing of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P1 vs the GF5.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and GF5 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking specifications. The image below will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and GF5.

To sum up, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the exact same MP so you should expect similar quality of pictures but you will need to consider the release date of the products into consideration. The more aged E-P1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography advice
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
55
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography info
Panasonic GF5 Street photography info
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports focus by touch
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography details
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography details
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
43
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery (300 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
61
supports focus by touch
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography factors
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
59
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging details
Panasonic GF5 Vlogging details
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
32
touchscreen
features face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus PEN E-P1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-07-29 2012-04-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 pounds) 267g (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 50
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 20.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.0
DXO Low light rating 536 573
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 360 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail price $182 $600