Olympus PEN E-P1 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC G1 — Which Is Better?

The Olympus PEN E-P1 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC G1 are both mirrorless cameras built on the Micro Four Thirds format, and both use the Micro 4/3 lens mount. Any native Micro 4/3 lens therefore fits either body, so lens choice never separates them, and the decision comes down to how each body is built and equipped.

Their body designs differ more than their size numbers suggest. The 2008 G1 is the taller and deeper body at 124 x 84 x 45 mm, while the slimmer 2009 E-P1 measures 121 x 70 x 36 mm. Weight is nearly identical at 355 g versus 360 g, so the practical difference is shape, not carry.

The E-P1 is the steadier pick for handheld shooting in dim interiors, because it offers in-body stabilisation that works with any Micro 4/3 lens attached. The G1 has no in-body stabilisation. The E-P1 also reaches 6400 ISO against the G1's 3200 ISO ceiling, giving extra exposure headroom as light falls.

The G1 answers with two advantages of its own. Its 23 autofocus points cover more of the frame than the E-P1's 11, helping keep off-centre subjects sharp, and its electronic viewfinder with 202000 dots allows eye-level shooting, while the E-P1 has no viewfinder at all. Resolution is effectively shared at 12.3 versus 12.1 megapixels, and both offer a 1/4000 second top shutter speed and 3 fps burst.

Video capability matches here, and it is basic: both cameras record Standard HD footage at up to 30 fps, enough for casual clips of family and travel rather than demanding video work. Each captures Motion JPEG, with the E-P1 wrapping its files in AVI, and neither offers a built-in timelapse mode. For occasional HD movies alongside stills, either body serves.

The G1's rear LCD is the clearer tool for framing and checking focus, with 460000 dots against 230000 on the E-P1, double the screen detail. Its display also flips out, so you can shoot from waist level or hold the camera overhead above a crowd, while the E-P1's fixed screen keeps you composing from directly behind the camera. A built-in flash on the G1 adds instant fill for backlit portraits, and both accept external flash units.

Connectivity is minimal on both. Neither offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS, so images move off the camera by card reader, and neither has weather sealing or a touch screen for trips outdoors or quick settings changes.

The G1's battery lasts longer, rated for 380 shots against 300 for the E-P1, an 80-shot advantage in the rating. Both take proprietary batteries with no USB charging, and both have a single card slot. Storage support differs slightly: the G1 accepts MMC cards alongside SD and SDHC, while the E-P1 takes SD and SDHC only.