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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Updated by Panasonic GH2
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic GH1

 E-PL9 GH1 
IntroducedFebruary 2018July 2009More recent by 105 months
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Olympus E-PL9

 GH1 E-PL9 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic GH1

 E-PL9 GH1 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

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

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Portrait photography camera
73
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW formats
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography factors
Panasonic GH1 Street photography factors
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
has focus by touch
72
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Sports photography camera
69
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
32
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (320 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
Travel photography with Panasonic GH1
77
connects via bluetooth
has focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have selfie friendly screen
58
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery (320 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography factors
80
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery (320 shots)
no Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging details
Panasonic GH1 Vlogging details
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of mic port
72
selfie friendly screen
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone socket
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic GH1
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2018-02-08 2009-07-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 273.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 1.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 10.50 m
Flash modes Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 grams (0.84 pounds) 385 grams (0.85 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 320 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $599 $949