Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-PL1

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-1 versus Olympus E-PL1, one being a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are sold by Olympus. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and E-PL1 (12MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-1 was manufactured 7 years prior to the E-PL1 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-1 scores vs the E-PL1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-1 and Olympus PEN E-PL1. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-1 Gallery and Olympus E-PL1 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-1 has got outer dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") and a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL1 has measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-1 versus Olympus E-PL1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the E-1 versus the E-PL1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-1 and E-PL1 is 59 and 86 respectively.

Generally, its difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing simply by going over specifications. The visual here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-1 and E-PL1.

Plainly, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Olympus E-PL1 to offer you extra detail due to its extra 7MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.