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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH1 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Announced January 2016
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Successor is Panasonic GH2
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic GH1, both Advanced Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and GH1 (12MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The PEN-F was brought out 6 years after the GH1 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summation of how the PEN-F matches up vs the GH1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic GH1

 PEN-F GH1 
LaunchedJanuary 2016July 2009More modern by 80 months
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Olympus PEN-F

 GH1 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic GH1

 PEN-F GH1 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus PEN-F has got external measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") and a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic GH1 has specifications of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") and a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic GH1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use during that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the PEN-F compared to the GH1.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and GH1 is 84 and 81 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reviewing technical specs. The pic below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and GH1.

As you can tell, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus PEN-F to offer you more detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The younger PEN-F provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Portrait photography camera
75
has manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
59
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography features
Panasonic GH1 Street photography features
84
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
72
fully articulated screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography advice
Panasonic GH1 Sports photography advice
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
bad battery life (330 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
32
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (320 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Travel photography camera
75
includes touch focus
good MP (20MP)
selfie friendly display
bad battery life (330 shots)
58
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (320 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography details
Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography details
76
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
bad battery life (330 shots)
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (320 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging highlights
Panasonic GH1 Vlogging highlights
78
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have external mic support
72
display is selfie friendly
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone support
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic GH1
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2016-01-27 2009-07-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 273.5mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.50 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427g (0.94 lbs) 385g (0.85 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 74 64
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 21.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 11.6
DXO Low light score 894 772
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 320 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at release $1,000 $949