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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Released October 2013
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P2
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are built by Olympus. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and E-P1 (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was brought out 4 years after the E-P1 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-M1 scores against the E-P1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus E-P1

 E-M1 E-P1 
ReleasedOctober 2013July 2009More modern by 52 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus E-M1

 E-P1 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-P1

 E-M1 E-P1 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 provides outer dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Olympus E-P1 has sizing of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 against the E-P1.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and E-P1 is 71 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes merely by seeing technical specs. The image here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and E-P1.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Olympus E-M1 to produce more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The newer E-M1 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
71
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/320s)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography info
Olympus E-P1 Street photography info
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus via touch
environment proofing
lighter than average (497 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-P1 Sports photography factors
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery life (350 per charge)
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-P1 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than average (497g)
environment proofing
features focus via touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
not so great battery life (350 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly display
43
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Olympus E-P1
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
not so great battery life (350 CIPA)
60
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (300 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging features
Olympus E-P1 Vlogging features
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic port
lighter than average (497 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-P1
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus PEN E-P1
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus PEN E-P1
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-10-28 2009-07-29
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/320s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 497 grams (1.10 pounds) 355 grams (0.78 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 55
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 10.4
DXO Low light rating 757 536
Other
Battery life 350 images 300 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $799 $182