Olympus 1 vs Panasonic G5

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus 1 and Panasonic G5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the 1 (12MP) and G5 (16MP) and the 1 (1/1.7") and G5 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The 1 was revealed 17 months later than the G5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the 1 matches up versus the G5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus 1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5. The full galleries are provided at Olympus 1 Gallery & Panasonic G5 Gallery.

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus 1 has outside dimensions of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Panasonic G5 has measurements of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs).

Compare the Olympus 1 and Panasonic G5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the 1 against the G5.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the 1 and G5 is 79 and 74 respectively.

Generally, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor measurements just by researching a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 and G5.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 1 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic G5 will result in more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The more modern 1 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.