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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GH2 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
  • Released May 2010
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Announced March 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GH1
  • Renewed by Panasonic GH3
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GH2, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and GH2 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1 was released 10 months earlier than the GH2 so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-PL1 matches up vs the GH2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic GH2

 E-PL1 GH2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Olympus E-PL1

 GH2 E-PL1 
AnnouncedMarch 2011May 2010Fresher by 10 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GH2

 E-PL1 GH2 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys outside dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH2 has proportions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GH2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL1 versus the GH2.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and GH2 is 86 and 70 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing simply by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and GH2.

As you can see, both cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Panasonic GH2 to result in extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older E-PL1 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Panasonic GH2
60
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
70
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography details
Panasonic GH2 Street photography details
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
68
fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Sports photography camera
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
46
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (330 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography details
Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography details
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.7")
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (290 shots)
no Timelapse mode
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (330 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Panasonic GH2
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone port
71
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic jack
no image stabilization
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GH2
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2010-05-17 2011-03-23
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 15.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 442 grams (0.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 60
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 11.3
DXO Low light rating 487 655
Other
Battery life 290 shots 330 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $288 $1,000