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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P2
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released September 2011
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and RZ18 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was launched 3 years prior to the RZ18 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-P1 grades vs the RZ18 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax RZ18

 E-P1 RZ18 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Olympus E-P1

 RZ18 E-P1 
ReleasedSeptember 2011July 2009More modern by 25 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax RZ18

 E-P1 RZ18 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. 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) and the Pentax RZ18 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-P1 against the RZ18.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and RZ18 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by going over technical specs. The pic underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P1 and RZ18.

As you can tell, both cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Pentax RZ18 will offer you greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography info
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography info
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
36
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than average (178 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography highlights
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
47
amazing zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography highlights
43
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (300 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
lighter than average (178g)
environment proof
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (450mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography information
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography information
60
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
49
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic socket
30
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (178g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax RZ18
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax Optio RZ18
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-07-29 2011-09-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 grams (0.78 pounds) 178 grams (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $182 $210