Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and GH1 (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL9 was released 8 years later than the GH1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL9 matches up vs the GH1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL9 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL9 Gallery & Panasonic GH1 Gallery.

If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 comes with exterior dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Panasonic GH1 has measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the E-PL9 compared to the GH1.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and GH1 is 85 and 81 respectively.

In many cases, it's hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements merely by researching specs. The photograph underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and GH1.

All in all, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Olympus E-PL9 to provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The younger E-PL9 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.