Clicky

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1

Portability
86
Imaging
46
Features
42
Overall
44
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Sony Alpha QX1 front
Portability
90
Imaging
62
Features
48
Overall
56

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1 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
  • Successor is Olympus E-P2
Sony QX1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 216g - 74 x 70 x 53mm
  • Revealed September 2014
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1 Overview

The following is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Lens-style by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and QX1 (20MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and QX1 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The E-P1 was released 6 years before the QX1 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-P1 matches up vs the QX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

        

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Sony QX1

 E-P1 QX1 
Screen dimensions3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution230k0kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX1 over the Olympus E-P1

 QX1 E-P1 
RevealedSeptember 2014July 2009Newer by 62 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Sony QX1

 E-P1 QX1 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P1 features outer 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 QX1 has dimensions of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") and a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-P1 compared to the QX1.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and QX1 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions only by reading through technical specs. The picture underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P1 and QX1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-P1 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony QX1 will give you extra detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography information
Sony QX1 Portrait photography information
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
65
focusing manually
decent MP (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Sony QX1
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
69
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
has touch focus
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others (216g)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography features
Sony QX1 Sports photography features
39
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
56
decent MP (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery pack (440 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony QX1 as a Travel photography camera
43
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
great battery pack (440 shots)
has touch focus
decent MP (20MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (216g)
screen is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography info
Sony QX1 Landscape photography info
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
63
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (440 CIPA)
screen is small (")
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging features
Sony QX1 Vlogging features
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic support
32
touchscreen enabled
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no mic jack
heavier than others (216g)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony QX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Sony QX1
 Olympus PEN E-P1Sony Alpha QX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Alpha QX1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Lens-style
Introduced 2009-07-29 2014-09-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.6
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches -
Screen resolution 230k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Off, auto, fill, slow sync, rear sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lbs) 216 gr (0.48 lbs)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 74 x 70 x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1")
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 images 440 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $182 $500