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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony H20

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony H20 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
  • Announced July 2009
  • New Model is Olympus E-P2
Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Announced May 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony H20 Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-P1 and Sony H20, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the H20 (10MP) is very close but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and H20 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was announced 3 months later than the H20 and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony H20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-P1 grades vs the H20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Sony H20

 E-P1 H20 

Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Olympus E-P1

 H20 E-P1 

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Sony H20

 E-P1 H20 
AnnouncedJuly 2009May 2009Same age
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-P1 enjoys external dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Sony H20 has specifications of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P1 and Sony H20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-P1 versus the H20.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony H20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and H20 is 86 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements just by looking through specs. The photograph below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P1 and H20.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P1 with its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-P1 will provide you with extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony H20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
Portrait photography with Sony H20
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
27
you can focus manually
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography highlights
Sony H20 Street photography highlights
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than average (250g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P1
Sports photography with Sony H20
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony H20 as a Travel photography camera
43
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
very long zoom (380mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than average (250g)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography details
Sony H20 Landscape photography details
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery pack (300 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
36
you can focus manually
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging info
Sony H20 Vlogging info
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
heavier than average (250g)
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Sony H20
 Olympus PEN E-P1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-07-29 2009-05-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 38-380mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-4.4
Macro focus distance - 2cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lbs) 250 gr (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $182 $249