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Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Olympus FE-5020 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5020
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-120mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 93 x 56 x 25mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Alternate Name is X-935
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
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL1s
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1 Overview

The following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both designed by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the FE-5020 (12MP) and the E-PL1 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the FE-5020 (1/2.3") and E-PL1 (Four Thirds) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The FE-5020 was manufactured 9 months prior to the E-PL1 so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus FE-5020 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the FE-5020 grades versus the E-PL1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5020 over the Olympus E-PL1

 FE-5020 E-PL1 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus FE-5020

 E-PL1 FE-5020 
RevealedMay 2010July 2009Newer by 9 months
Focus manually More precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus FE-5020 and Olympus E-PL1

 FE-5020 E-PL1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus FE-5020 provides exterior measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs) and 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).

See the Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the FE-5020 and the E-PL1.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FE-5020 and E-PL1 is 95 and 86 respectively.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions just by going through technical specs. The image here should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-5020 and E-PL1.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor dimensions. The FE-5020 uses the smaller sensor which is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder. The more aged FE-5020 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography highlights
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Street photography info
Olympus E-PL1 Street photography info
60
environment proof
lighter than others (137 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Sports photography features
Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography features
24
environment proof
low max shutter speed (1/500s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Travel photography information
Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography information
65
lighter than others (137 grams)
environment proof
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
52
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery (290 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography factors
31
reasonably wide (24mm)
environment proof
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low resolution (12MP)
low battery (290 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
28
reasonably wide (24mm)
lighter than others (137 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have mic jack
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5020 and Olympus E-PL1
 Olympus FE-5020Olympus PEN E-PL1
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus FE-5020 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Otherwise known as X-935 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-07-22 2010-05-17
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Truepic V
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand 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 1/500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.10 m 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 137g (0.30 lbs) 334g (0.74 lbs)
Dimensions 93 x 56 x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B BLS-1
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD SD/SDHC card
Card slots One One
Retail price $160 $288