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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH2 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Later Model is Olympus E-P2
Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Introduced March 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH1
  • New Model is Panasonic GH3
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

In this write-up, we are comparing the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GH2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and GH2 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-P1 was introduced 20 months prior to the GH2 making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-P1 grades vs the GH2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Panasonic GH2

 E-P1 GH2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Olympus E-P1

 GH2 E-P1 
IntroducedMarch 2011July 2009More modern by 20 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GH2

 E-P1 GH2 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera often, you will want 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") accompanied by a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH2 has sizing of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GH2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P1 versus the GH2.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and GH2 is 86 and 70 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes just by going over a spec sheet. The image below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P1 and GH2.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Panasonic GH2 to deliver greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
Portrait photography with Panasonic GH2
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
70
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
68
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography factors
Panasonic GH2 Sports photography factors
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
46
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (330 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography details
Panasonic GH2 Travel photography details
43
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
62
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (330 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Landscape photography camera
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
60
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (330 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
Vlogging with Panasonic GH2
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic jack
71
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
has face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone support
lack of image stabilization
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GH2
 Olympus PEN E-P1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-07-29 2011-03-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip 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 surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 15.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 grams (0.78 pounds) 442 grams (0.97 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 60
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.3
DXO Low light rating 536 655
Other
Battery life 300 photos 330 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $182 $1,000