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Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72

Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500 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
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P2
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Bump to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Superseded the Samsung NX300
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Samsung. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and NX500 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-P1 was introduced 6 years prior to the NX500 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-P1 grades versus the NX500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Samsung NX500

 E-P1 NX500 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Olympus E-P1

 NX500 E-P1 
LaunchedFebruary 2015July 2009Newer by 67 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1036k230kCrisper display (+806k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Samsung NX500

 E-P1 NX500 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P1 comes with exterior measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Samsung NX500 has proportions of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P1 against the NX500.

Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and NX500 is 86 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading specs. The pic underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P1 and NX500.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-P1 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh tougher and the Samsung NX500 will offer greater detail using its extra 16 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
Portrait photography with Samsung NX500
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
80
manual focus
amazing megapixels (28MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
81
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography info
Samsung NX500 Sports photography info
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
75
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
amazing megapixels (28 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography factors
Samsung NX500 Travel photography factors
43
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
78
supports bluetooth
includes focus via touch
amazing megapixels (28MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography factors
Samsung NX500 Landscape photography factors
60
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
amazing megapixels (28 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
Vlogging with Samsung NX500
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic jack
34
touchscreen
offers face detect focus
great video quality (4096 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-P1 vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Samsung NX500
 Olympus PEN E-P1Samsung NX500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Samsung NX500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-07-29 2015-02-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V DRIMe 5
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 28 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 6480 x 4320
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 209
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Total lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,036k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1280x720 4096x2160
Video format Motion JPEG H.265
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 pounds) 287g (0.63 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 87
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 24.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 13.9
DXO Low light rating 536 1379
Other
Battery life 300 images 370 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $182 $800