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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 front
Portability
72
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched November 2011
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic FZ28
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 27-486mm (F2.8-4.4) lens
  • 417g - 118 x 75 x 89mm
  • Revealed January 2009
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the FZ28 (10MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and FZ28 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was manufactured 2 years later than the FZ28 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ28 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-PM1 matches up vs the FZ28 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic FZ28

 E-PM1 FZ28 
RevealedNovember 2011January 2009More recent by 35 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ28 over the Olympus E-PM1

 FZ28 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FZ28

 E-PM1 FZ28 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM1 has got physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ28 has specifications of 118mm x 75mm x 89mm (4.6" x 3.0" x 3.5") accompanied by a weight of 417 grams (0.92 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PM1 and the FZ28.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and FZ28 is 89 and 72 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements just by checking specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and FZ28.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PM1 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PM1 will resolve greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more recent E-PM1 will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FZ28 Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
35
has manual focus
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography details
Panasonic FZ28 Street photography details
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FZ28 as a Sports photography camera
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect AF
33
long zoom range (27-486mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM1
Travel photography with Panasonic FZ28
45
does not have Timelapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
52
flash built-in
quite wide (27mm)
great zoom (486mm)
no Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic FZ28 Landscape photography factors
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
does not have Timelapse function
40
has manual focus
quite wide (27mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7")
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging info
Panasonic FZ28 Vlogging info
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have microphone jack
24
quite wide (27mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ28 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FZ28
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-11-23 2009-01-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 27-486mm (18.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-4.4
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 8.50 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options 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)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 @ 30 fps, 848 x 480, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 @ 30fps, 320 x 240 @ 10fps
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265g (0.58 pounds) 417g (0.92 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 118 x 75 x 89mm (4.6" x 3.0" x 3.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 27
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 17.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 10.1
DXO Low light score 499 79
Other
Battery life 330 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $499 $599