Olympus E-1 vs Pentax P80

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus E-1 versus Pentax P80, one being a Pro DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and P80 (12MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and P80 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-1 was announced 6 years before the P80 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-1 matches up against the P80 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-1 and Pentax Optio P80. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-1 Gallery and Pentax P80 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-1 has got physical 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) while the Pentax P80 has specifications of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-1 versus Pentax P80 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the E-1 compared to the P80.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-1 and P80 is 59 and 95 respectively.

Often, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements simply by seeing specifications. The graphic below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-1 and P80.

To sum up, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-1 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax P80 will produce greater detail with its extra 7MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older E-1 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.