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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH6

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH6 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
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic FH6
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 119g - 96 x 56 x 20mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH6 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic FH6, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the FH6 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and FH6 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was introduced 20 months before the FH6 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH6 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PL1 matches up against the FH6 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic FH6

 E-PL1 FH6 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH6 over the Olympus E-PL1

 FH6 E-PL1 
RevealedJanuary 2012May 2010Fresher by 20 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH6

 E-PL1 FH6 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH6 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 provides exterior measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH6 has sizing of 96mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic FH6 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 against the FH6.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH6 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and FH6 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH6 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizing purely by seeing specs. The photograph underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and FH6.

All in all, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic FH6 will show more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-PL1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH6 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Panasonic FH6
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH6 as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (119 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Panasonic FH6
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
better than average battery power (280 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FH6 Travel photography factors
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
better than average battery power (280 CIPA)
lighter than average (119g)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FH6 Landscape photography info
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
41
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
better than average battery power (280 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Panasonic FH6
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic port
32
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
lighter than average (119 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic support
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH6
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-05-17 2012-01-09
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 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
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 mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.5-6.4
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334g (0.74 lbs) 119g (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 96 x 56 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8")
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 pictures 280 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack 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
Retail price $288 $129