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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Launched March 2009
Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched May 2010
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL1s
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both offered by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the E-PL1 (12MP) is fairly well matched and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was launched 13 months before the E-PL1 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-30 matches up against the E-PL1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus E-PL1

 E-30 E-PL1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus E-30

 E-PL1 E-30 
LaunchedMay 2010March 2009Fresher by 13 months

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL1

 E-30 E-PL1 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display measurements
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 has external measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL1 has proportions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-30 vs the E-PL1.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and E-PL1 is 60 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading through specs. The graphic below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and E-PL1.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same resolution so you can expect similar quality of photographs though you would want to take the launch date of the products into consideration. The older E-30 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-30
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-30
Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
72
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
52
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery (750 CIPA)
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
49
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse function
low battery (750 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (290 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-30
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
52
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery (750 shots)
no Time Lapse function
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging highlights
18
no video recording
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL1
 Olympus E-30Olympus PEN E-PL1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-30 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-03-24 2010-05-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Truepic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 gr (1.53 pounds) 334 gr (0.74 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 54
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 21.5
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 10.1
DXO Low light score 530 487
Other
Battery life 750 photos 290 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 BLS-1
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $1,299 $288