Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A560

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A560, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the A560 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and A560 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-P1 was revealed 13 months earlier than the A560 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A560 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-P1 grades vs the A560 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-P1 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A560. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-P1 Gallery and Sony A560 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-P1 offers physical 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) whilst the Sony A560 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P1 vs Sony A560 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-P1 versus the A560.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and A560 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements only by reviewing specs. The graphic here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and A560.

All in all, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-P1 having a tinier sensor will make getting bokeh harder and the Sony A560 will deliver greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older E-P1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.