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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic L1

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic L1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2007
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic L1 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic L1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and L1 (7MP) but they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL2 was introduced 3 years later than the L1 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-PL2 scores against the L1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic L1

 E-PL2 L1 
LaunchedFebruary 2011April 2007More recent by 47 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k207kClearer display (+253k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Olympus E-PL2

 L1 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic L1

 E-PL2 L1 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic L1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 has got physical dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Panasonic L1 has specifications of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") along with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic L1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL2 vs the L1.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic L1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and L1 is 85 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic L1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic L1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements only by reading technical specs. The visual underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and L1.

As you have seen, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Olympus E-PL2 to offer you more detail using its extra 5 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more modern E-PL2 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic L1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic L1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic L1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography information
Panasonic L1 Portrait photography information
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
54
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (7MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic L1 as a Street photography camera
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
58
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (606g)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography info
Panasonic L1 Sports photography info
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery (280 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (7MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic L1 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (280 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
50
lighter than competition in class (606g)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (7MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic L1 as a Landscape photography camera
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
47
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.5")
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (7MP)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging features
Panasonic L1 Vlogging features
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic L1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic L1
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-02-11 2007-04-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 7 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 3136 x 2352
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 45
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 207 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 13.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
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 362 gr (0.80 lb) 606 gr (1.34 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/MMC card
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $1,500