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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched May 2010
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic FH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 163g - 98 x 55 x 23mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FS10
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH1 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the FH1 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and FH1 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was released 5 months after the FH1 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH1 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PL1 matches up against the FH1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic FH1

 E-PL1 FH1 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH1 over the Olympus E-PL1

 FH1 E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH1

 E-PL1 FH1 
IntroducedMay 2010January 2010Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 has got exterior dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Panasonic FH1 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 163 grams (0.36 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-PL1 and the FH1.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and FH1 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to see the contrast in sensor dimensions only by going through technical specs. The image here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and FH1.

As you can tell, the two cameras posses the exact same megapixel count but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 contains the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF easier.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Panasonic FH1
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
21
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Panasonic FH1
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Panasonic FH1
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FH1 Travel photography advice
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
58
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FH1 Landscape photography features
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (290 shots)
no Timelapse function
32
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FH1 Vlogging advice
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone port
29
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FS10
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-05-17 2010-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 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 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 pounds) 163 gr (0.36 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 98 x 55 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $288 $150