Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH1

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.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PM2 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PM2 Gallery and Panasonic GH1 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.