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Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL1

Portability
82
Imaging
53
Features
73
Overall
61
Olympus OM-D E-M10 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 119 x 82 x 46mm
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M10 II
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
  • Launched May 2010
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL1s
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Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL1 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M10 versus Olympus E-PL1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and they are both created by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the E-M10 (16MP) and E-PL1 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-M10 was released 3 years later than the E-PL1 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M10 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-M10 grades against the E-PL1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 E-M10 E-PL1 
LaunchedMarch 2014May 2010More recent by 47 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 E-PL1 E-M10 

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

 E-M10 E-PL1 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M10 offers physical dimensions of 119mm x 82mm x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") and a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL1 has specifications of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M10 versus Olympus E-PL1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M10 vs the E-PL1.

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 and E-PL1 is 82 and 86 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading specs. The visual here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M10 and E-PL1.

All in all, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus E-M10 to deliver more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The fresher E-M10 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

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

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

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
77
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
provides focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
more heavy than average (396 grams)
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
no phase detect AF
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery (290 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography factors
67
provides focus by touch
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
more heavy than average (396g)
does not feature selfie friendly display
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (290 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography advice
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (290 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M10
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
33
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
missing microphone jack
more heavy than average (396g)
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
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Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 and Olympus E-PL1
 Olympus OM-D E-M10Olympus PEN E-PL1
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-03-18 2010-05-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Truepic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.80 m (ISO100) 10.00 m
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1(FULL)~1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 396g (0.87 lb) 334g (0.74 lb)
Physical dimensions 119 x 82 x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 54
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 21.5
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 10.1
DXO Low light score 884 487
Other
Battery life 320 photos 290 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 BLS-1
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec.,custom (Waiting time 1-30sec.,Shooting interval 0.5/1/2/3sec.,Number of shots 1-10)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $600 $288