Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX100

The following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Olympus and Samsung. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the NX100 (15MP) is fairly well matched but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and NX100 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizes.

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The E-P1 was announced 13 months prior to the NX100 making them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-P1 grades against the NX100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-P1 & Samsung NX100. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-P1 Gallery & Samsung NX100 Gallery.

If you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P1 comes with outside dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX100 has dimensions of 120mm x 71mm x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 282 grams (0.62 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-P1 vs the NX100.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and NX100 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Quite often, it is difficult to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions simply by looking at specifications. The image here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P1 and NX100.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-P1 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Samsung NX100 will give more detail with its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 is going to be behind in sensor technology.