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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH2
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic GH1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and GH1 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-PM2 was introduced 3 years later than the GH1 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-PM2 scores versus the GH1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic GH1

 E-PM2 GH1 
RevealedMay 2013July 2009Fresher by 48 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Olympus E-PM2

 GH1 E-PM2 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GH1

 E-PM2 GH1 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera often, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 features outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic GH1 has proportions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") and a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic GH1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PM2 compared to the GH1.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and GH1 is 89 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to see the gap between sensor sizing only by reading a spec sheet. The photograph below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and GH1.

As you can see, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Olympus E-PM2 to deliver greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more recent E-PM2 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography information
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
59
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Street photography camera
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
72
screen can move to multiple angles
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography info
Panasonic GH1 Sports photography info
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
32
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (320 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
Travel photography with Panasonic GH1
66
supports touch focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
58
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery life (320 shots)
low MP (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Landscape photography camera
74
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of Time Lapse recording
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (320 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic GH1 Vlogging highlights
36
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic port
72
display is selfie friendly
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic jack
lack of image stabilization
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GH1
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-05-21 2009-07-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 273.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 1.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 10.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 grams (0.59 lb) 385 grams (0.85 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 64
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 21.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 11.6
DXO Low light score 932 772
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 320 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $448 $949