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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-P1

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-P1 Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Revealed November 2003
  • Renewed by Olympus E-3
Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P2
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-P1 Overview

Here is a extended comparison of the Olympus E-1 versus Olympus E-P1, former being a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are sold by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and E-P1 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-1 was introduced 6 years prior to the E-P1 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-1 matches up vs the E-P1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Olympus E-P1

 E-1 E-P1 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus E-1

 E-P1 E-1 
LaunchedJuly 2009November 2003Fresher by 68 months
Screen sizing3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution230k134kSharper screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Olympus E-P1

 E-1 E-P1 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-P1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-1 enjoys outside dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Olympus E-P1 has sizing of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).

See the Olympus E-1 versus Olympus E-P1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-1 against the E-P1.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-P1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and E-P1 is 59 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-P1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-P1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading specs. The photograph below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-1 and E-P1.

All in all, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Olympus E-P1 to offer you more detail using its extra 7 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-1 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-P1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-P1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-P1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography information
46
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
low resolution sensor (5MP)
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-P1 Street photography highlights
57
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
lighter than competition (735 grams)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 Sports photography advice
Olympus E-P1 Sports photography advice
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (5 megapixels)
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
low battery power (300 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-P1 as a Travel photography camera
47
lighter than competition (735g)
environment sealing
missing Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (5MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
43
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery power (300 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-P1 as a Landscape photography camera
46
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is somewhat small (1.8")
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (5MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
60
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery power (300 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging information
Olympus E-P1 Vlogging information
9
can't shoot video
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-P1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Olympus E-P1
 Olympus E-1Olympus PEN E-P1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-1 Olympus PEN E-P1
Category Pro DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2003-11-29 2009-07-29
Physical type Large SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic V
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 2560 x 1920 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 1.8" 3"
Resolution of screen 134k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 735 gr (1.62 lbs) 355 gr (0.78 lbs)
Dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 55
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.4
DXO Low light score not tested 536
Other
Battery life - 300 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC card
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $1,700 $182