Between olympus and pansonic, is there a clear winner for shoot in jpeg result?

Hi..,

I have decided go to mirco four third (rather then normal dslr) in my next camera from pns camera.

Since I prefer the photo result is in jpeg, in general (without specific model and both use their own lens) is there a clear winner between olympus and panasonic?

because what i read from internet, it is look like olympus give better result in jpeg and panasonic give better result in raw.
or both of them give similar result in jpeg?

I hope I get more information with this thread.

I prefer the Olympus jpegs, and they are generally well known to have excellent jpeg quality- sharp, good detail, and very pleasing colors. Many of my photos look great right out of the camera.

As far as RAW goes, it really depends just on the sensor. The 12 mp sensor common to many models- the e-pl1, gf1, gf2, gf3 etc.- will give the same raw results. The GH2 and G3 do have improved sensors, so they will give the best raw results.

A year and a half ago I moved from P&S to m4/3 and chose the EPL1 over GF1 because of:

1 - Many reports of better JPEGS straight out of the camera & I didn't want to spend time working on RAW files

2 - IBIS - Stabilisation system in the camera because I was worried about camera shake.

3 - Price - the EPL1 was the cheapest m4/3 camera at that time & since it was an unknown entity to me at that time I didnt want to invest too much.

A year and a half later:

1. I still don't process RAW files though I do mess with the JPEGS in Aperture.

2. I still like the IBIS as I can use cheap, manual focus lenses like the Minolta 50mm 1.4 with good results (though I now realise that proper technique can alleviate much of the blur problems anyway).

3. Prices have come down now.... the EPM1 will be about $500 which is still cheaper than the Panasonic entry price.

I would recommend you try the cameras you like in a walk in shop. See which one feels good in your hand. Ask them if you can take some test shots with your own SD card & compare at home on your computer. Do lots of research!

For me it was still a hard decision to choose between Oly and Pany & I still look with envy at people carrying GF1's
--
BoxWatcher

People have strong feelings about this issue, but having followed this and other forums for a long time I would say the consensus is that:

(a) Olympus has more 'pleasing' JPG colors, even though they may not be as 'realistic';

(b) Panasonic's newest camera, the G3, has better JPG colors than any other Panasonic m43 camera, and some think it rivals the Oly PENs.

The G3 has really nice colors and improved dynamic range. I'll be interested to see how Olympus does if they get their hands on this sensor! If the E-PL4 has the G3 sensor, I'm buying one for sure.

tjuster1 said:

People have strong feelings about this issue, but having followed this and other forums for a long time I would say the consensus is that:

(a) Olympus has more 'pleasing' JPG colors, even though they may not be as 'realistic';

(b) Panasonic's newest camera, the G3, has better JPG colors than any other Panasonic m43 camera, and some think it rivals the Oly PENs.

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Hi..,
can explain what you mean "look with envy at people carrying GF1".
is panasonic in GF1 give better result in overall from olympus?

cococat said:

For me it was still a hard decision to choose between Oly and Pany & I still look with envy at people carrying GF1's
--
BoxWatcher

Click to expand...

Hi..,
so.., are you try to say:
1. panasonic will give more realistic color in jpeg format?

2. panasonic G3 give same result in jpeg format as most olympus mirco four third?

tjuster1 said:

People have strong feelings about this issue, but having followed this and other forums for a long time I would say the consensus is that:

(a) Olympus has more 'pleasing' JPG colors, even though they may not be as 'realistic';

(b) Panasonic's newest camera, the G3, has better JPG colors than any other Panasonic m43 camera, and some think it rivals the Oly PENs.

Click to expand...

Olympus has probably the best jpegs of all camera manufacturers, at least after Fuji departed from the DSLR market, but Panasonic is catching up. There are other difference that are more important. For me, the choice between a G3 and an E-P3 would be between build-in viewfinder or IBIS.

If you are in doubt, buy both ;D

--
Jorgen, my name is Jorgen

cococat said:

I would recommend you try the cameras you like in a walk in shop. See which one feels good in your hand. Ask them if you can take some test shots with your own SD card & compare at home on your computer. Do lots of research!

Click to expand...

I tend to feel that if you go into a shop to try out a camera in person, that you should buy the camera from the shop and salesperson that gave you the extra value of trying it in person. Yes, you might be able to find the camera cheaper on the internet, but if the shop was helpful to you in making up your mind, then you should help keep them in business. If you feel you can not pay brick and mortar prices, then don't go into the shop in the first place, and just order online.

zakk9 said:

Olympus has probably the best jpegs of all camera manufacturers, at least after Fuji departed from the DSLR market, but Panasonic is catching up. There are other difference that are more important. For me, the choice between a G3 and an E-P3 would be between build-in viewfinder or IBIS.

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Also if your main interest is video, Panasonic in general is better for video. On the other hand, if you ever want to go beyond a simple pop-up flash, Olympus is a lot better than Panasonic for using external flash, including both flash controlled by the camera and generic flashes.

You may wanna try both. Olympus has very different color rendition. I've had Panasonic GF2 and G3. Good jpeg engine is not just color, it's also max resolution and good balanced noise reduction. After my venture to panasonic I am still back to my E-PL2 because I shoot jpeg most of the time and I by far prefer Oly's color rendtition. IMO, depending on what lenses you're planning to use, IBIS may or may not be important. It works best with pancakes. Shutter speeds of 1/5s with Panny 20mm is rather routine for me with E-PL2 (couldn't get steady shots at anything below 1/30s with G3). IBIS is far less effective with telephoto lenses and doesn't work for video. The important distintion is that G3 has built-in EVF. If you plan on using EVF most of the time, G3 is probably more sensible choice. I don't think there is a clear winner at all. Also, E-PL3 now offers tilting screen which many prefer over Panny's articulating screen. Basically, I personally could not recommend a Pana m43 to anyone who shoots jpeg only and never does any PP (you can still do it with jpegs) as based on my experience I was never 100% satisfied with OOC jpeg colors coming from GF2 and G3. I never had any issues with colors coming Oly E-PL2, Canon T2i or Canon S90. They all seemed to be optimized just right.

spaceship said:

2. panasonic G3 give same result in jpeg format as most olympus mirco four third?

tjuster1 said:

People have strong feelings about this issue, but having followed this and other forums for a long time I would say the consensus is that:

(a) Olympus has more 'pleasing' JPG colors, even though they may not be as 'realistic';

(b) Panasonic's newest camera, the G3, has better JPG colors than any other Panasonic m43 camera, and some think it rivals the Oly PENs.

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--
E-PL2; 20mm f1.7, 14mm f2.5, 14-150mm f4-5.6

Panasonic is better for video only in regards to GH2. All new Oly models (E-P3, E-PL3, E-PM1) are actually better for video than G3 or GF3. Oly allows full manual control over video with the oprion to attach external mic. But who knows if G3 can be hacked the way GF1 or GH2 were then it could be a very compelling cheap option for some serious video.

Michael Meissner said:

zakk9 said:

Olympus has probably the best jpegs of all camera manufacturers, at least after Fuji departed from the DSLR market, but Panasonic is catching up. There are other difference that are more important. For me, the choice between a G3 and an E-P3 would be between build-in viewfinder or IBIS.

Click to expand...

Also if your main interest is video, Panasonic in general is better for video. On the other hand, if you ever want to go beyond a simple pop-up flash, Olympus is a lot better than Panasonic for using external flash, including both flash controlled by the camera and generic flashes.

Click to expand...

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E-PL2; 20mm f1.7, 14mm f2.5, 14-150mm f4-5.6

Best jpg engine on any camera.

G3 has gotten a little closer, but dpreview will back what I say.

Shooting raw is a different story, but most people agree Olympus has the best jpg engine around.

Imo the Panasonic colours up to the G3 are not more realistic than the Olympus ones. They are more muted but have some strange colour shifts which were noted in reviews here and at imaging resource.

Orange is brownish, yellows too and greens are often over saturated. Then there is the magenta cast especieally in older models. Playing with the settings helps a bit but even then the colours are not as beautiful as the Olympus ones and also not more realistic imo.

The GF1 is a great camera but imo you have to shoot RAW with it to get pleasing results. That's what i do with mine exclusively.

spaceship said:

2. panasonic G3 give same result in jpeg format as most olympus mirco four third?

tjuster1 said:

People have strong feelings about this issue, but having followed this and other forums for a long time I would say the consensus is that:

(a) Olympus has more 'pleasing' JPG colors, even though they may not be as 'realistic';

(b) Panasonic's newest camera, the G3, has better JPG colors than any other Panasonic m43 camera, and some think it rivals the Oly PENs.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
What´s that noise?

From one of the Canon Forums:

'I just came back from my first holiday with the 5D II (I think my wife was there as well). '

spaceship said:

because what i read from internet, it is look like olympus give better result in jpeg and panasonic give better result in raw.
or both of them give similar result in jpeg?

Click to expand...

Olympus color is not accurate, but most people find it the most pleasing of any camera manufacturer. It's more of what we think the color should be. Panasonic G3 is close, but not quite there yet. Olympus JPEGs are also quite sharp. In contrast, Panasonic's are somewhat mushy, and it has been brought up in the professional reviews.

Panasonic's advantage is in high ISO noise: GH2 and G3 have visibly less noise than Olympus cameras.

Vlad

For good JPEG and accurate colors- EP or EPL 3 with gimmics off as gradation and i- enhance using MUTED. Noise filter low. Really excellent.

spaceship said:

cococat said:

For me it was still a hard decision to choose between Oly and Pany & I still look with envy at people carrying GF1's
--
BoxWatcher

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Nothing to do with the output but just the looks and build quality. The gf1 is built like a battleship
--
BoxWatcher

It is usually a small thing which causes us to choose one camera brand over another. I have tried, and returned, several Olympus DSLRs in the past year or so. I have always been impressed with the Olympus IQ and reasonable prices. However, because of my age and slower reaction times, I have developed a reliance on focus-lock-beep, especially for shooting moving subjects, so the beep is one thing I look for immediately when choosing a camera, and this is the one area where Olympus could not help me: an audible, useable beep. They have a beep in their menus, but when it is ON it is raspy and almost inaudible. I contacted Olympus and they confirmed my findings, but admitted they could not change it. The beep is of no concern to many photographers and seldom gets used. As I said, it is the little things which influence our choices.....
--
POGO was right !

and I have the GH2, G1 and EPL-1. The Panasonics have a definite magenta bias (except maybe the G3 but I haven't used one) and the jpegs are not as sharp as Oly's. If jpeg is your end game I would always recommend Oly. However, the GH2 and G1 raw files are very good indeed and the GH2 outresolves most crop DSLR's.

Oly probably spend more time and money developing their jpeg output than most manufacturers and it shows, even to the point of emphasising primary colours using specific in camera settings (ienhance). Whether you prefer the colour rendition of Panny or Olympus is a personal thing but the general concensus is that Oly do it better. I'd agree with that opinion although I enjoy using both brands.

spaceship said:

Hi..,

I have decided go to mirco four third (rather then normal dslr) in my next camera from pns camera.

Since I prefer the photo result is in jpeg, in general (without specific model and both use their own lens) is there a clear winner between olympus and panasonic?

because what i read from internet, it is look like olympus give better result in jpeg and panasonic give better result in raw.
or both of them give similar result in jpeg?

I hope I get more information with this thread.

Click to expand...

--
It's a known fact that where there's tea there's hope.
Tony
http://the-random-photographer.blogspot.com/

Hi..,
are you try to say jpeg in olympus is better then canon or nikon dslr too?

papillon_65 said:

and I have the GH2, G1 and EPL-1. The Panasonics have a definite magenta bias (except maybe the G3 but I haven't used one) and the jpegs are not as sharp as Oly's. If jpeg is your end game I would always recommend Oly. However, the GH2 and G1 raw files are very good indeed and the GH2 outresolves most crop DSLR's.

Oly probably spend more time and money developing their jpeg output than most manufacturers and it shows, even to the point of emphasising primary colours using specific in camera settings (ienhance). Whether you prefer the colour rendition of Panny or Olympus is a personal thing but the general concensus is that Oly do it better. I'd agree with that opinion although I enjoy using both brands.

Click to expand...