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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GH2 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
  • Announced November 2011
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Released March 2011
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GH3
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

The following is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic GH2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and GH2 (16MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PM1 was unveiled 9 months after the GH2 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PM1 scores versus the GH2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic GH2

 E-PM1 GH2 
ReleasedNovember 2011March 2011Newer by 9 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Olympus E-PM1

 GH2 E-PM1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic GH2

 E-PM1 GH2 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM1 offers physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH2 has specifications of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") and a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic GH2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PM1 and the GH2.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and GH2 is 89 and 70 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions only by reviewing specs. The image here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and GH2.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Panasonic GH2 to offer you extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The newer E-PM1 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography info
Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography info
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
70
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography information
Panasonic GH2 Street photography information
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
68
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GH2 Sports photography advice
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect AF
46
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (330 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Travel photography camera
45
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (330 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography advice
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (330 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Panasonic GH2
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
71
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
provides face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone socket
no image stabilization
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic GH2
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2011-11-23 2011-03-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
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 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 15.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 265 gr (0.58 lb) 442 gr (0.97 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 60
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 11.3
DXO Low light score 499 655
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 330 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $499 $1,000