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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus PEN-F

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Olympus PEN-F front
Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus PEN-F 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
  • Released November 2003
  • Successor is Olympus E-3
Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Released January 2016
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus PEN-F Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-1 vs Olympus PEN-F, one being a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and both are designed by Olympus. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and PEN-F (20MP) but they possess the exact same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-1 was revealed 13 years before the PEN-F and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-1 matches up against the PEN-F in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Olympus PEN-F

 E-1 PEN-F 

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Olympus E-1

 PEN-F E-1 
ReleasedJanuary 2016November 2003Fresher by 148 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution1037k134kSharper screen (+903k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Olympus PEN-F

 E-1 PEN-F 
Manual focus More precise focus

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus PEN-F Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-1 enjoys physical measurements of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") along with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) whilst the Olympus PEN-F has proportions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") and a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-1 vs Olympus PEN-F in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-1 compared to the PEN-F.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus PEN-F size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and PEN-F is 59 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus PEN-F top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus PEN-F Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to see the gap between sensor sizing simply by looking at a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-1 and PEN-F.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Olympus PEN-F to give you extra detail because of its extra 15MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The older E-1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus PEN-F sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus PEN-F Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus PEN-F as a Portrait photography camera
46
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no liveview
low megapixels (5MP)
75
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography details
Olympus PEN-F Street photography details
57
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proof
lighter than competitors in class (735g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
84
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-1
Sports photography with Olympus PEN-F
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
67
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
low battery life (330 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-1
Travel photography with Olympus PEN-F
47
lighter than competitors in class (735 grams)
weather proof
no Timelapse recording
low megapixels (5MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
75
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
selfie friendly display
low battery life (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography advice
Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography advice
46
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proof
screen is somewhat small (1.8 inches)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (5MP)
no Timelapse recording
76
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
low battery life (330 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging details
Olympus PEN-F Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
78
selfie friendly display
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
missing mic port
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus PEN-F Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Olympus PEN-F
 Olympus E-1Olympus PEN-F
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-1 Olympus PEN-F
Category Pro DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2003-11-29 2016-01-27
Body design Large SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic VII
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 5 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 2560 x 1920 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 81
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 1.8" 3"
Screen resolution 134k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.62x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 735 gr (1.62 lb) 427 gr (0.94 lb)
Dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 894
Other
Battery life - 330 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $1,700 $1,000