Clicky

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL1

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Olympus FE-5010 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL1 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5010
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-180mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 130g - 96 x 57 x 21mm
  • Released January 2009
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
  • Announced May 2010
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL1s
Photography Glossary

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL1 Overview

Following is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus FE-5010 and Olympus E-PL1, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both offered by Olympus. The image resolution of the FE-5010 (12MP) and the E-PL1 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the FE-5010 (1/2.3") and E-PL1 (Four Thirds) feature different sensor size.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The FE-5010 was unveiled 16 months earlier than the E-PL1 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus FE-5010 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the FE-5010 matches up vs the E-PL1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5010 over the Olympus E-PL1

 FE-5010 E-PL1 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus FE-5010

 E-PL1 FE-5010 
AnnouncedMay 2010January 2009More modern by 16 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus

Common features in the Olympus FE-5010 and Olympus E-PL1

 FE-5010 E-PL1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera, you should consider its weight and size. The Olympus FE-5010 comes with outer measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 130 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL1 has specifications of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Check the Olympus FE-5010 and Olympus E-PL1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the FE-5010 vs the E-PL1.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FE-5010 and E-PL1 is 96 and 86 respectively.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading through specs. The pic below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-5010 and E-PL1.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor sizes. The FE-5010 has the tinier sensor which will make getting shallow DOF harder. The more aged FE-5010 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL1 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography advice
20
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Street photography advice
Olympus E-PL1 Street photography advice
66
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competitors in class (130g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
33
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery (290 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Travel photography details
Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography details
60
lighter than competitors in class (130 grams)
environment proof
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (290 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Landscape photography features
Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
31
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
28
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (130 grams)
wide angle not great (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone socket
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5010 and Olympus E-PL1
 Olympus FE-5010Olympus PEN E-PL1
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus FE-5010 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-01-07 2010-05-17
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Truepic V
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 36-180mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.9 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 130 grams (0.29 pounds) 334 grams (0.74 pounds)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 54
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.1
DXO Low light score not tested 487
Other
Battery life - 290 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B BLS-1
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type xD-Picture Card (1GB, 2GB), microSD (MASD-1 is required) SD/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $130 $288