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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH1 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
  • New Model is Olympus E-P2
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH2
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

Below is a detailed review of the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GH1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the GH1 (12MP) is fairly similar and both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-P1 was launched very close to the GH1 so they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-P1 matches up versus the GH1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Panasonic GH1

 E-P1 GH1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Olympus E-P1

 GH1 E-P1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GH1

 E-P1 GH1 
ReleasedJuly 2009July 2009Similar age
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P1 has got physical measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH1 has proportions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GH1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-P1 versus the GH1.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and GH1 is 86 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading a spec sheet. The visual underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and GH1.

Clearly, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical megapixels so you can expect similar quality of photographs though you really should take the launch date of the products into consideration.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography factors
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Panasonic GH1
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
72
fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Sports photography camera
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
32
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (320 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography factors
Panasonic GH1 Travel photography factors
43
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
58
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery (320 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P1
Landscape photography with Panasonic GH1
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery (300 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (320 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging information
Panasonic GH1 Vlogging information
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
72
display is selfie friendly
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone support
no image stabilization
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GH1
 Olympus PEN E-P1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-07-29 2009-07-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 273.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 1.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 pounds) 385 gr (0.85 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 64
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 21.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.6
DXO Low light rating 536 772
Other
Battery life 300 images 320 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $182 $949