Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX300

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus E-P1 and Samsung NX300, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Olympus and Samsung. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and NX300 (20MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and NX300 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P1 was revealed 5 years earlier than the NX300 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-P1 matches up against the NX300 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-P1 & Samsung NX300. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-P1 Gallery & Samsung NX300 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P1 comes with outer measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Samsung NX300 has proportions of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") and a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P1 and Samsung NX300 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-P1 vs the NX300.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and NX300 is 86 and 86 respectively.

Generally, it is very hard to picture the difference in sensor dimensions purely by looking through technical specs. The image here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P1 and NX300.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-P1 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Samsung NX300 will result in more detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.