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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic G1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 front
Portability
82
Imaging
46
Features
50
Overall
47

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic G1 Key Specs

Olympus E-P2
(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
  • Launched April 2010
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P1
  • New Model is Olympus E-P3
Panasonic G1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 360g - 124 x 84 x 45mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Successor is Panasonic G2
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic G1 Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic G1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the G1 (12MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-P2 was introduced 16 months after the G1 making them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-P2 matches up versus the G1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic G1

 E-P2 G1 
ReleasedApril 2010January 2009More modern by 16 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic G1 over the Olympus E-P2

 G1 E-P2 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic G1

 E-P2 G1 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic G1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P2 has external dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Panasonic G1 has dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") having a weight of 360 grams (0.79 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic G1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-P2 vs the G1.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic G1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P2 and G1 is 86 and 82 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic G1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic G1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading through technical specs. The pic here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P2 and G1.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size and the same MP therefore you can expect similar quality of files but you might want to factor the age of the products into consideration. The more recent E-P2 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic G1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic G1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic G1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P2
Portrait photography with Panasonic G1
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
57
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P2
Street photography with Panasonic G1
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
72
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P2
Sports photography with Panasonic G1
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
33
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography details
Panasonic G1 Travel photography details
43
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
62
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic G1 Landscape photography advice
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
57
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P2
Vlogging with Panasonic G1
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
18
no video shooting
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic G1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic G1
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2010-04-22 2009-01-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V -
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 4:3 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 support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 gr (0.78 lbs) 360 gr (0.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 124 x 84 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 53
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 21.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.3
DXO Low light rating 505 463
Other
Battery life 300 shots 330 shots
Battery type 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/MMC/SDHC card
Card slots One One
Launch cost $799 $0