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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
54
Overall
52

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic GX1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 318g - 116 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2012
  • Successor is Panasonic GX7
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1 Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and GX1 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL2 was introduced 12 months prior to the GX1 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-PL2 matches up versus the GX1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic GX1

 E-PL2 GX1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Olympus E-PL2

 GX1 E-PL2 
LaunchedFebruary 2012February 2011More recent by 12 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GX1

 E-PL2 GX1 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL2 enjoys outside dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Panasonic GX1 has measurements of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL2 versus the GX1.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and GX1 is 85 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements merely by viewing specifications. The graphic below might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and GX1.

To sum up, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic GX1 to render more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GX1 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography factors
Panasonic GX1 Street photography factors
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
fixed screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GX1 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (280 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
47
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low battery power (300 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography factors
Panasonic GX1 Travel photography factors
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
terrible battery (280 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
65
boasts touch to focus
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery power (300 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GX1 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery (280 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
62
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
low battery power (300 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Panasonic GX1
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone port
32
touch screen
has face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GX1
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-02-11 2012-02-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 7.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/160s
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 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 362g (0.80 lbs) 318g (0.70 lbs)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 55
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 20.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 10.6
DXO Low light rating 573 703
Other
Battery life 280 images 300 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $0 $228