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Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-PL1

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
40
Overall
40
Olympus E-330 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45

Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-PL1 Key Specs

Olympus E-330
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Boost to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 616g - 140 x 87 x 72mm
  • Revealed March 2006
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-330
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-300
  • New Model is Olympus E-450
Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced May 2010
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL1s
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Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-PL1 Overview

Below is a detailed review of the Olympus E-330 versus Olympus E-PL1, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the E-330 (7MP) and E-PL1 (12MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-330 was revealed 5 years before the E-PL1 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-330 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-330 scores against the E-PL1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-330 over the Olympus E-PL1

 E-330 E-PL1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus E-330

 E-PL1 E-330 
IntroducedMay 2010March 2006More recent by 50 months
Screen size2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k215kSharper screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-330 and Olympus E-PL1

 E-330 E-PL1 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-PL1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-330 provides outer dimensions of 140mm x 87mm x 72mm (5.5" x 3.4" x 2.8") and a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL1 has sizing of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-330 versus Olympus E-PL1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-330 versus the E-PL1.

Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-PL1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-330 and E-PL1 is 65 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-PL1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-PL1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements simply by seeing technical specs. The photograph underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-330 and E-PL1.

As you have seen, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus E-PL1 to show greater detail because of its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older E-330 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-PL1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-330 Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography advice
54
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (7 megapixels)
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-330 Street photography factors
Olympus E-PL1 Street photography factors
60
screen tilts
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (616 grams)
lack of image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-330 Sports photography info
Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography info
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (7 megapixels)
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (290 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-330 Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography highlights
50
lighter than competition in class (616g)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (7 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-330 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography factors
45
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (7MP)
max ISO too low (400)
does not have Timelapse recording
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (290 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-330 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging advice
9
lack of video recording
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus E-330 vs Olympus E-PL1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-330 and Olympus E-PL1
 Olympus E-330Olympus PEN E-PL1
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-330 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Also called as EVOLT E-330 -
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2006-03-18 2010-05-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Truepic V
Sensor type CMOS 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 7MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3136 x 2352 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 400 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 215 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.47x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 616 gr (1.36 pounds) 334 gr (0.74 pounds)
Physical dimensions 140 x 87 x 72mm (5.5" x 3.4" x 2.8") 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 54
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 487
Other
Battery life - 290 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card
Card slots One One
Retail cost $1,100 $288