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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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 GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF3
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the GF2 (12MP) is fairly comparable and both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1 was announced 9 months earlier than the GF2 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-PL1 scores vs the GF2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic GF2

 E-PL1 GF2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Olympus E-PL1

 GF2 E-PL1 
IntroducedFebruary 2011May 2010Newer by 9 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GF2

 E-PL1 GF2 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 comes with outer 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 GF2 has measurements of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 vs the GF2.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and GF2 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions merely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and GF2.

As you can see, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same MP and you should expect comparable quality of photos but you might want to consider the production date of the cameras into account. The more aged E-PL1 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic GF2 Portrait photography details
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Panasonic GF2
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
65
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography info
Panasonic GF2 Sports photography info
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic GF2 Travel photography highlights
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
52
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography features
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging information
Panasonic GF2 Vlogging information
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
32
built-in touchscreen
provides face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GF2
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-05-17 2011-02-24
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
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 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 grams (0.74 lb) 310 grams (0.68 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 54
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 10.3
DXO Low light rating 487 506
Other
Battery life 290 images 300 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $288 $330