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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Released July 2009
  • Updated by Olympus E-P2
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX10V
  • Replacement is Sony HX30V
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and HX20V (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P1 was introduced 4 years earlier than the HX20V which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-P1 matches up against the HX20V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Sony HX20V

 E-P1 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus E-P1

 HX20V E-P1 
AnnouncedJuly 2012July 2009More modern by 36 months
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Sony HX20V

 E-P1 HX20V 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P1 has exterior measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-P1 versus the HX20V.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and HX20V is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes merely by checking out specs. The pic underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and HX20V.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony HX20V will provide greater detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
45
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Sony HX20V
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography factors
Sony HX20V Sports photography factors
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
low battery power (300 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography features
Sony HX20V Travel photography features
43
missing Time Lapse function
low battery power (300 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography info
Sony HX20V Landscape photography info
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
low battery power (300 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
50
focusing manually
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging details
Sony HX20V Vlogging details
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic socket
34
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus PEN E-P1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-07-29 2012-07-20
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355g (0.78 lbs) 254g (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
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 photos 320 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $182 $397