Olympus E-P1 vs Sony HX400V: A Deep Dive into Two Distinct Worlds of Photography

Choosing between the Olympus PEN E-P1 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V is essentially deciding between two different philosophies of photography. One’s an entry-level mirrorless camera born in the earlier wave of compact interchangeable lens systems, the other a superzoom bridge camera packed with versatility and telephoto reach. Having spent countless hours hands-on with both, this detailed comparison unpacks their differences across all major photography genres, technical features, and practical usability, helping you make a confident choice informed by real-world experience.

Setting the Scene: Design, Handling, and Build Quality

Right off the bat, you’ll notice the Olympus E-P1’s compact, rangefinder-style mirrorless design, versus the Sony HX400V’s SLR-like bridge camera heft. The PEN E-P1 weighs a meager 355g with dimensions 121mm wide, 70mm tall, and 36mm deep - perfect for those who prize portability without sacrificing a classic camera feel. The HX400V is nearly twice as heavy at 660g and chunkier at 130x93x103mm, thanks largely to its built-in 50x zoom lens and larger grip.

In practice, the Olympus feels more discreet and comfortable for travel or street photography, slipping easily into smaller bags and not drawing undue attention. The Sony’s robust, tactile grip favors those shooting wildlife or sports who want a steady hold for extended telephoto work. Both cameras lack professional-level weather sealing, which puts them at a disadvantage for challenging environments - something to note if you’re planning shoots in harsh conditions.

Control layouts tell a story too. The Olympus offers a minimalist top plate - intuitive but with fewer dedicated dials, requiring familiarity with menus for less common settings. The Sony compensates with more buttons and a tilting rear screen, lending greater immediate control and flexibility for varied shooting angles.

Sensor Technologies and Image Quality: Size Matters

When it comes to the fundamental building block of image quality - the sensor - the Olympus E-P1 uses a Four Thirds sized CMOS sensor, measuring 17.3x13mm, while the Sony HX400V houses a much smaller 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor (6.17x4.55mm). This gap in sensor area (about eightfold) very clearly impacts resolution, noise performance, and dynamic range.

The Olympus’s 12MP Four Thirds sensor delivers detailed images with good color depth and dynamic range (DxOmark scores highlight 21.4 bit color depth and 10.4 EV dynamic range). In contrast, Sony crams 20MP onto a tiny sensor, trading higher pixel count for reduced per-pixel light gathering. This results in noisier images at higher ISOs and a narrower dynamic range, though with much better reach for distant subjects thanks to its zoom lens.

For raw shooters and portrait photographers, the Olympus sensor offers richer tonal gradations and finer detail - especially when paired with quality Micro Four Thirds primes known for exquisite bokeh and sharpness. The Sony’s sensor, geared more for JPEG convenience and flexibility, does the job well under good lighting but struggles in low light and fine detail preservation.

Viewing Experience: Screen and Viewfinder Insights

Neither camera offers a built-in optical viewfinder. However, Olympus opted out of any electronic viewfinder option on the E-P1, whereas the Sony HX400V includes a 100% coverage electronic viewfinder - crucial for bright outdoor shooting.

The Olympus’s 3-inch fixed HyperCrystal LCD with 230k-dot resolution looks underwhelming today but was decent for its time, offering an anti-reflective coating that helps with daylight viewing. The Sony’s 3-inch tilting screen sports a much higher resolution at 921k dots, making it easier to assess focus and exposure on the fly.

If you value a clear, versatile live view experience or shoot in bright sunlight, the Sony’s EVF and superior LCD really enhance usability. Still, I like Olympus’s simple interface for quick portrait setups where the LCD size and resolution are sufficient.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Here’s where the cameras cater to different photographer needs. The Olympus employs a contrast-detection AF system with 11 focus points, face detection, and continuous AF, but lacks subject tracking or eye autofocus features.

The Sony HX400V, despite its small sensor, offers phase detection-inspired features like AF tracking along with 9 AF points, face detection, and center-weighted focusing. Though not on par with modern hybrid AF systems, Sony’s autofocus is noticeably quicker and better-tailored toward action and wildlife photography thanks to the faster burst rate of 10 fps.

For portraiture or street shooting, the Olympus’s face detection suffices, but for sports or wildlife, the Sony’s AF tracking will be a reliable ally.

Burst Shooting and Performance Speed

Neither camera is a speed demon by today’s standards, but the Sony HX400V’s 10 fps continuously beats the Olympus E-P1’s 3 fps. This gap makes the Sony a better option for capturing wildlife moments or sports sequences where timing is critical.

Both cameras offer shutter speeds up to 1/4000s, with Olympus having a slightly longer slow shutter capability (up to 60 seconds), useful for night and astro photography enthusiasts hoping to experiment with long exposures.

Lens Ecosystem vs All-in-One Convenience

A critical decision point: Olympus uses a Micro Four Thirds lens mount with over 100 available lenses (107 as of this writing), spanning everything from affordable primes to high-end professional optics. You can tailor your setup for macro, portraits, landscapes, and more. It means carrying additional optics but enjoying superior optical quality and creative flexibility.

The Sony HX400V, in contrast, comes with a fixed 24-1200mm (35mm equivalent) F2.8-6.3 zoom lens. This enormous zoom range means no lens changes, perfect for travel, wildlife, or casual photography without fuss. However, the lens trade-off is slower apertures at the long end and optical compromises inherent in superzoom designs.

Specialized Genre Breakdown: What Each Camera Excels At

Portrait Photography

The Olympus E-P1 shines here, driven by its Four Thirds sensor’s better color depth and Micro Four Thirds primes that deliver creamy bokeh and accurate skin tones. Its face detection autofocus is helpful, though lacking eye detection means you need to be deliberate with focus placement.

Sony’s HX400V struggles in silky background blur due to smaller sensor size and limited aperture. Face detection is present, but skin tones can appear less natural in challenging lighting.

Landscape Photography

If you prioritize resolution, dynamic range, and tonal gradation, Olympus leads thanks to its sensor, especially with a good wide-angle prime or zoom lens. No weather sealing tempering your rugged outdoor ambitions.

Sony’s bridge camera boasts a super versatile lens allowing incredible framing freedom but with the expense of image quality under low contrast or dynamic lighting. If roughing it is not your thing - neither camera is weather sealed - Olympus’s size advantage also means easier portability for hiking.

Wildlife Photography

Sony’s HX400V is your ticket here, offering a whopping 50x zoom and faster burst capturing quick action. Autofocus tracking further increases keeper rates of fleeting wildlife moments.

The Olympus E-P1 can manage short telephoto needs reasonably but cannot compete with the HX400V’s zoom reach and AF speed for distant subjects.

Sports Photography

The Sony again takes the edge with high fps and AF tracking functions, paired with telephoto convenience.

Olympus’s slower continuous shooting and AF tracking absence limit its sports utility beyond casual use.

Street Photography

Olympus’s compact size, discretion, and solid image quality make it an excellent street shooter. You can sneak shots unobtrusively while enjoying fine detail rendering.

Sony’s bulk and zoom lens can be a hinderance here, drawing more attention and making quick framing challenging.

Macro Photography

Neither camera specifically excels here, but Olympus users can invest in Micro Four Thirds macro lenses with 1:1 magnification and precise manual focusing aided by focus peaking (available on later Olympus models, less so on E-P1). Sony’s closest focusing distance is 1cm but with a small sensor, the detail capture won’t rival true macro lenses.

Night and Astro Photography

Olympus allows 60-second exposures, beneficial for astrophotography; its Four Thirds sensor performs reasonably at high ISO, holding detail and tonality better than Sony’s smaller sensor.

Sony’s fastest slow shutter is 30 seconds, limiting exposure time; high ISO noise is more prominent but still usable in brighter night scenes.

Video Capabilities

Olympus caps at 720p HD video at 30fps in Motion JPEG format - functional but dated and less efficient.

Sony outperforms with 1080p Full HD video at 60p in AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats plus microphone input, catering to more serious videographers.

Neither camera offers advanced video features or 4K, naturally considering their release dates.

Travel Photography

Olympus’s pocketable size, lens adaptability, and respectable battery endurance (300 shots) are great for travelers wanting image quality without lugging oversized gear.

Sony’s all-in-one zoom simplifies gear choices but at double the weight and bulk - still a compelling option if you desire vast focal range convenience and GPS tagging.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery Insights

In today’s connected world, Olympus E-P1 disappoints with no wireless options. It relies solely on USB 2.0 and HDMI out. The Sony HX400V remedies this with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, making image sharing and remote control smoother.

Both cameras use single SD card slots, with the Sony also supporting Sony’s Memory Stick variants - a plus in legacy accessory terms but confusing if you don’t have compatible cards.

Battery life is similar (~300 shots) but the smaller Olympus battery means carrying spares for longer outings.

Overall Performance and Value: A Summary Scorecard

Despite their age, both cameras occupy unique niches. Olympus E-P1 scores well for image quality, ergonomics, and creative flexibility. Sony HX400V shines in zoom reach, autofocus speed, and video features.

Sample Image Gallery: Real-World Results

Below you can see side-by-side sample images highlighting color rendition, bokeh quality, and zoom performance differences.

Olympus E P1 front Olympus E P1 screen back Sony HX400V front Sony HX400V screen back

Who Should Buy What? Practical Recommendations

• If you’re passionate about image quality, enjoy changing lenses, and want a pocketable camera for portraits, street, and landscapes: Olympus E-P1 is still an attractive entry-level mirrorless choice on a budget.

• If you want extreme telephoto reach in a single camera, frequently shoot wildlife or sports, require video at 1080p, and appreciate convenience over ultimate image quality: Sony HX400V’s superzoom bridge design delivers unmatched versatility without swapping lenses.

• For budget-conscious beginners desiring strong image quality with legacy lens options: Olympus offers better raw shooting flexibility and sharper output.

• For travelers and casual shooters who hate changing lenses and want integrated GPS and wireless sharing: Sony wins on practical convenience.

A Final Thought on Future-Proofing and Longevity

Keep in mind both cameras are over half a decade old, eclipsed by newer tech with improved sensors, hybrid AF, and 4K video. However, these models provide affordable gateways into specific photography genres with solid results. Their limitations - no weather sealing, slower processing, and dated user interfaces - mean they work best in controlled environments or for learning rather than as primary professional tools.

Wrapping Up: Which One Fits Your Photography Journey?

Deciding between Olympus PEN E-P1 and Sony Cyber-shot HX400V boils down to your priorities: uncompromised image quality and lens flexibility in a compact form versus massive zoom reach and video capability in an all-in-one package.

I recommend handling both if possible and considering what genres you prefer, whether you want to grow your kit or keep it simple, and how much bulk you’re willing to carry daily.

Both cameras have unique charms, and this comparison showcases how different approaches to photography gear serve different creative ambitions - and that’s a wonderful thing for us enthusiasts to have options.

Happy shooting!