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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF1

The Olympus PEN E-PM1 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in June 2011 and September 2009. Both the E-PM1 and the GF1 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 12 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-PM1
versus
Panasonic GF1
Olympus E-PM1   Panasonic GF1
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
12.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor 12 MP – Four Thirds sensor
1080/60i Video 720/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 ISO 100-3,200
Viewfinder optional Viewfinder optional
3.0" LCD – 460k dots 3.0" LCD – 460k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
5.5 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationLens stabilization only
330 shots per battery charge380 shots per battery charge
110 x 64 x 34 mm, 265 g 119 x 71 x 36 mm, 385 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus PEN E-PM1 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-PM1 and the Panasonic GF1. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-PM1 can be obtained in six different colors (black, silver, brown, pink, purple, white), while the GF1 is only available in black.

Size Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF1
Compare E-PM1 versus GF1 top
Comparison E-PM1 or GF1 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic GF1 is notably larger (20 percent) than the Olympus E-PM1. Moreover, the GF1 is substantially heavier (45 percent) than the E-PM1. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the E-PM1 nor the GF1 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

Concerning battery life, the E-PM1 gets 330 shots out of its Olympus BLS-5 battery, while the GF1 can take 380 images on a single charge of its Panasonic DMW-BLB13 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-PM1 110 mm 64 mm 34 mm 265 g 330 n Jun 2011 499ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic GF1 119 mm 71 mm 36 mm 385 g 380 n Sep 2009 749ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-PL5 111 mm 64 mm 38 mm 325 g 360 n Sep 2012 599ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-PM2 110 mm 64 mm 34 mm 269 g 360 n Sep 2012 499ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-P3 122 mm 69 mm 34 mm 369 g 330 n Jun 2011 799ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-PL2 114 mm 72 mm 42 mm 362 g 280 n Jan 2011 599ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-PL3 110 mm 64 mm 37 mm 313 g 300 n Jun 2011 599ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-PL1 115 mm 72 mm 42 mm 334 g 290 n Feb 2010 599ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GF5 108 mm 67 mm 37 mm 267 g 360 n Apr 2012 499ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GF3 108 mm 67 mm 32 mm 264 g 300 n Jun 2011 549ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GX1 116 mm 68 mm 39 mm 318 g 320 n Nov 2011 699ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic G10 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 388 g 380 n Mar 2010 499ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic G2 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 428 g 360 n Mar 2010 599ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic GF2 113 mm 68 mm 33 mm 310 g 300 n Nov 2010 549ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic GH1 124 mm 90 mm 45 mm 385 g 300 n Mar 2009 899ebay.com
16.
 
Panasonic G1 124 mm 84 mm 45 mm 360 g 410 n Sep 2008 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The E-PM1 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 33 percent) than the GF1, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic GF1 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the E-PM1 offers a slightly higher resolution of 12.2 megapixels, compared with 12 MP of the GF1. This megapixels advantage translates into a 0.8 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the E-PM1 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 4.29μm versus 4.33μm for the GF1). In this context, it should be noted, however, that the E-PM1 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 9 months) than the GF1, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The Olympus PEN E-PM1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 are ISO 100 to ISO 3200 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

E-PM1 versus GF1 MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-PM1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i21.010.349952
2.
 
Panasonic GF1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.351354
3.
 
Olympus E-PL5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.388972
4.
 
Olympus E-PM2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.712.293272
5.
 
Olympus E-P3 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i20.810.153651
6.
 
Olympus E-PL2 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.410.257355
7.
 
Olympus E-PL3 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i20.910.349952
8.
 
Olympus E-PL1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.510.148754
9.
 
Panasonic GF5 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i20.510.057350
10.
 
Panasonic GF3 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i20.610.145950
11.
 
Panasonic GX1 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p20.810.670355
12.
 
Panasonic G10 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.141152
13.
 
Panasonic G2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.349353
14.
 
Panasonic GF2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i21.210.350654
15.
 
Panasonic GH1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/24p21.611.677264
16.
 
Panasonic G1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000none21.110.346353
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the E-PM1 provides a higher video resolution than the GF1. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60i, while the Panasonic is limited to 720/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The E-PM1 and the GF1 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. However, optional viewfinders – the VF-2 for the E-PM1 and the DMW-LVF1 for the GF1 – are available as accessories. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic GF1 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Olympus E-PM1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s n Y
2.
 
Panasonic GF1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
3.
 
Olympus E-PL5optional n3.0 / 460 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
4.
 
Olympus E-PM2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
5.
 
Olympus E-P3optional n3.0 / 614 fixed Y 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
6.
 
Olympus E-PL2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Olympus E-PL3optional n3.0 / 460 tilting n 1/4000s 5.5/s n Y
8.
 
Olympus E-PL1optional n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/2000s 3.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Panasonic GF5none n3.0 / 920 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
10.
 
Panasonic GF3none n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 3.2/s Y n
11.
 
Panasonic GX1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
12.
 
Panasonic G10202 n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
13.
 
Panasonic G21440 n3.0 / 460 swivel Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
14.
 
Panasonic GF2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
15.
 
Panasonic GH11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
16.
 
Panasonic G11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One feature that differentiates the E-PM1 and the GF1 is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The E-PM1 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the GF1 offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.

The E-PM1 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the GF1 uses SDHC cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus PEN E-PM1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus E-PM1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Panasonic GF1Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
3.
 
Olympus E-PL5Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
4.
 
Olympus E-PM2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
5.
 
Olympus E-P3Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
6.
 
Olympus E-PL2Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
7.
 
Olympus E-PL3Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
8.
 
Olympus E-PL1Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
9.
 
Panasonic GF5-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Panasonic GF3-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic GX1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic G10Ymono / ---mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic G2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
14.
 
Panasonic GF2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
15.
 
Panasonic GH1Ystereo / -Y-mini2.0---
16.
 
Panasonic G1Y- / ---mini2.0---
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Both the E-PM1 and the GF1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The GF1 was replaced by the Panasonic DMC-GF2, while the E-PM1 was followed by the Olympus E-PM2. Further information on the features and operation of the E-PM1 and GF1 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-PM1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic GF1 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Olympus E-PM1 and the Panasonic GF1? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PM1:

  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/60i vs 720/30p).
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5.5 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More compact: Is smaller (110x64mm vs 119x71mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 120g or 31 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (33 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 9 months after the GF1).

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Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1:

  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (380 versus 330) out of a single battery charge.
  • Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2009).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-PM1 is the clear winner of the match-up (7 : 3 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-PM1 07:03 GF1

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-PM1 and the Panasonic GF1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-PM1 or the GF1. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-PM1..86/100..71/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2011 499ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic GF1..85/100..69/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 749ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-PL53/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 599ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-PM23/5....77/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 499ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-P3..83/100..74/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2011 799ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-PL23/583/100..71/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2011 599ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-PL33/5+ +..72/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 599ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-PL1..86/100..69/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2010 599ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GF53/5......4.5/54.5/5 Apr 2012 499ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GF33/582/100..71/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 549ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GX13/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2011 699ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic G103/5....70/1004/54/5 Mar 2010 499ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic G2......72/1004/54.5/5 Mar 2010 599ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic GF23/582/100..70/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2010 549ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic GH1..+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 899ebay.com
16.
 
Panasonic G1..+ +..70/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2008 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF1

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Olympus E-PM1 Panasonic GF1
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date June 2011 September 2009
    Launch Price USD 499 USD 749
    Sensor Specs Olympus E-PM1 Panasonic GF1
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12.2 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4032 x 3024 pixels 4000 x 3000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.29 μm 4.33 μm
    Pixel Density 5.42 MP/cm2 5.34 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60i Video 720/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 12,800 ISO 100 - 3,200 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic VI Venus HD
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 52 54
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.0 21.2
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.3 10.3
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 499 513
    Screen Specs Olympus E-PM1 Panasonic GF1
    Viewfinder Type Viewfinder optional Viewfinder optional
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 460k dots 460k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Olympus E-PM1 Panasonic GF1
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 5.5 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationLens stabilization only
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDHC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Olympus E-PM1 Panasonic GF1
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Olympus E-PM1 Panasonic GF1
    Battery Type Olympus BLS-5 Panasonic DMW-BLB13
    Battery Life (CIPA)330 shots per charge380 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34 mm
    (4.3 x 2.5 x 1.3 in)
    119 x 71 x 36 mm
    (4.7 x 2.8 x 1.4 in)
    Camera Weight 265 g (9.3 oz) 385 g (13.6 oz)
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