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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 front
Portability
90
Imaging
53
Features
66
Overall
58

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7 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
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic GF7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF6
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF8
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and GF7 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-PM1 was introduced 4 years before the GF7 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-PM1 scores vs the GF7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic GF7

 E-PM1 GF7 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF7 over the Olympus E-PM1

 GF7 E-PM1 
RevealedFebruary 2015November 2011More modern by 38 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic GF7

 E-PM1 GF7 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 features outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF7 has measurements of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PM1 vs the GF7.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and GF7 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading through specs. The image here might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and GF7.

All in all, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can expect the Panasonic GF7 to resolve greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM1
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF7
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
65
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM1
Street photography with Panasonic GF7
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
80
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
has touch focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography factors
Panasonic GF7 Sports photography factors
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect autofocus
51
max shutter speed is good (1/16,000s)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
max fps very slow (5.8 fps)
no image stabilization
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography features
Panasonic GF7 Travel photography features
45
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
70
has touch focus
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GF7 Landscape photography highlights
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
69
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging information
Panasonic GF7 Vlogging information
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
33
touch screen
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
missing mic socket
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic GF7
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-11-23 2015-02-01
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 5.8 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265 grams (0.58 pounds) 266 grams (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 230 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $499 $308