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Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL1

Portability
82
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 II front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 390g - 120 x 83 x 47mm
  • Announced August 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M10
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M10 III
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
  • Revealed May 2010
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL1s
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Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL1 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-PL1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and they are both offered by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the E-M10 II (16MP) and E-PL1 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-M10 II was revealed 5 years later than the E-PL1 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M10 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-M10 II scores versus the E-PL1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 II over the Olympus E-PL1

 E-M10 II E-PL1 
RevealedAugust 2015May 2010More recent by 65 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus E-M10 II

 E-PL1 E-M10 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-PL1

 E-M10 II E-PL1 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL1 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M10 II features outer dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 47mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 1.9") and a weight of 390 grams (0.86 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL1 has specifications of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-PL1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M10 II against the E-PL1.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M10 II and E-PL1 is 82 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by reviewing specifications. The graphic here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M10 II and E-PL1.

Plainly, both cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Olympus E-M10 II to deliver extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The fresher E-M10 II will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M10 II
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Street photography information
Olympus E-PL1 Street photography information
83
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M10 II
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery life (290 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography highlights
73
provides touch focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
does not feature selfie friendly display
52
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery life (290 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
79
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
35
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
lack of mic port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone support
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Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-PL1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-PL1
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 IIOlympus PEN E-PL1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Olympus PEN E-PL1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2015-08-25 2010-05-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (ISO 100) 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, flash off, 1st-curtain slow sync w/redeye, 1st-curtain slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/30p/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 390 grams (0.86 lb) 334 grams (0.74 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 83 x 47mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 1.9") 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 54
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 21.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 10.1
DXO Low light rating 842 487
Other
Battery life 320 photographs 290 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 BLS-1
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $499 $288