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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Olympus TG-820 iHS front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Key Specs

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
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P2
Olympus TG-820 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 206g - 101 x 65 x 26mm
  • Announced February 2012
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-P1 versus Olympus TG-820 iHS, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and they are both produced by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the TG-820 iHS (12MP) is fairly close but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and TG-820 iHS (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P1 was introduced 3 years before the TG-820 iHS and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-820 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-P1 matches up against the TG-820 iHS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus TG-820 iHS

 E-P1 TG-820 iHS 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-820 iHS over the Olympus E-P1

 TG-820 iHS E-P1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012July 2009Fresher by 30 months
Display resolution1030k230kClearer display (+800k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus TG-820 iHS

 E-P1 TG-820 iHS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 has got exterior dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Olympus TG-820 iHS has measurements of 101mm x 65mm x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") and a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P1 versus Olympus TG-820 iHS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-P1 versus the TG-820 iHS.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and TG-820 iHS is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizing only by researching specifications. The visual underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and TG-820 iHS.

To sum up, each of the cameras have the same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizing. The E-P1 contains the larger sensor which is going to make achieving bokeh easier. The older E-P1 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
27
provides face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Sports photography camera
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
34
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Travel photography camera
43
no Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
59
weather proofing
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography info
Olympus TG-820 iHS Landscape photography info
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
lack of manual exposure
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
Vlogging with Olympus TG-820 iHS
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic jack
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Olympus TG-820 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-P1Olympus TG-820 iHS
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus TG-820 iHS
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Revealed 2009-07-29 2012-02-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V TruePic VI
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 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.9-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,030 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating HyperCrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.50 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
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lb) 206 gr (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 101 x 65 x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs 220 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $182 $500