Canon M vs Olympus E-PL1

Let's take a deeper look at the Canon M versus Olympus E-PL1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the M (18MP) and E-PL1 (12MP) and the M (APS-C) and E-PL1 (Four Thirds) have totally different sensor measurements.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The M was unveiled 2 years after the E-PL1 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the M matches up versus the E-PL1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon EOS M and Olympus PEN E-PL1. The full galleries are provided at Canon M Gallery and Olympus E-PL1 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Canon M offers exterior dimensions of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL1 has specifications of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Contrast the Canon M versus Olympus E-PL1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the M versus the E-PL1.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the M and E-PL1 is 89 and 86 respectively.

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions purely by looking at a spec sheet. The picture here should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the M and E-PL1.

As you can see, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The M having a larger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Canon M will give greater detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more recent M will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.