Olympus PEN E-P2 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC G1 — Which Is Better?

The Olympus PEN E-P2 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC G1 are both early Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras, so either body takes the same native lenses. The G1 arrived in 2008 as a DSLR-style body with an electronic viewfinder. The E-P2 followed in 2009 in a slimmer rangefinder-style design that relies on its LCD for framing.

The E-P2 is the slimmer, lighter body at 121 x 70 x 36 mm and 355 g, against 124 x 84 x 45 mm and 360 g for the G1, so it packs into smaller spaces.

The E-P2 is the steadier choice for handheld work with unstabilised primes, because it offers in-body stabilisation and the G1 does not. Its standard ISO range also reaches 6400 against the G1's 3200, so you can raise sensitivity further as the light drops. The G1 answers with more autofocus points, 23 versus 11, for off-centre subjects.

Neither camera gives a cropping edge, as 12.3 megapixels on the E-P2 sits 0.2 megapixels above the G1's 12.1 on the same Micro Four Thirds sensor format. Burst and shutter limits match too, at 3 fps and a 1/4000 second top speed on both.

Both cameras record Standard HD video, and both have a 30 fps maximum frame rate, so neither offers a resolution or slow-motion advantage. The remaining difference is the wrapper, as the E-P2 writes AVI Motion JPEG and the G1 records Motion JPEG.

Neither camera offers built-in timelapse, so interval work would need an external trigger on either body.

The G1 is the more convenient camera at eye level and arm's length. Its built-in flash gives instant fill light without carrying a separate unit, while the E-P2 leaves that to an external flash. The G1's LCD also tilts for waist-level and overhead framing, and its sharper display shows 460,000 dots against the E-P2's 230,000.

Live view is shared, and both provide a flash shoe for external units. Neither includes GPS, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

The G1's battery rating is the higher one, at 380 shots against 300 for the E-P2 under their respective test conditions. Both use proprietary packs, a DMW-BLB13 in the G1 and a BLS-1 in the E-P2, and neither charges over USB, so a separate charger travels with either body.

Card support differs in one respect. The G1 accepts MMC cards alongside SD and SDHC, while the E-P2 takes SD and SDHC only. Both have a single card slot, so there is no second card for backup.