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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P2
Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Superseded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Updated by Olympus SP-820UZ
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Overview

Following is a thorough comparison of the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the SP-820UZ (14MP) is fairly close but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and SP-820UZ (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P1 was announced 4 years before the SP-820UZ which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-P1 scores vs the SP-820UZ for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 E-P1 SP-820UZ 
Focus manually More exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Olympus E-P1

 SP-820UZ E-P1 
ReleasedAugust 2012July 2009More modern by 37 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus SP-820UZ

 E-P1 SP-820UZ 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 has outside measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Olympus SP-820UZ has sizing of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-P1 versus the SP-820UZ.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and SP-820UZ is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes merely by viewing a spec sheet. The picture here will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and SP-820UZ.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 with its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus SP-820UZ will provide you with greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SP-820UZ as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
34
good resolution (14 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SP-820UZ as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
37
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than average in class (485 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography highlights
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 shots)
no phase detect AF
33
amazing zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
good resolution (14MP)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
Travel photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
43
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
55
good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (22mm)
long reach (896mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (485 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography info
Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography info
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
35
decently wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
Vlogging with Olympus SP-820UZ
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
25
decently wide (22mm)
provides face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing external mic jack
heavier than average in class (485g)
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Olympus SP-820UZ
 Olympus PEN E-P1Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-07-29 2012-08-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 22-896mm (40.7x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.4-5.7
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 15.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lb) 485 gr (1.07 lb)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $182 $299