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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH20 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
  • Announced May 2010
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS30
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

Here is a extended review of the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH20, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and FH20 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL1 was unveiled 5 months later than the FH20 so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-PL1 grades vs the FH20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic FH20

 E-PL1 FH20 
Focus manually More exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Olympus E-PL1

 FH20 E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH20

 E-PL1 FH20 
RevealedMay 2010January 2010Similar generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display size
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 has physical measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Panasonic FH20 has sizing of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH20 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1 vs the FH20.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and FH20 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing simply by looking at specifications. The graphic underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and FH20.

Plainly, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic FH20 will give you greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
28
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FH20 Street photography highlights
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography details
Panasonic FH20 Sports photography details
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography features
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
64
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
37
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging features
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging features
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic jack
28
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH20
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FS30
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-05-17 2010-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-224mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 178 grams (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $288 $179