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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
69
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX1 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Updated by Olympus E-P2
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Launched February 2013
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Olympus E-P1 versus Sony RX1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and RX1 (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was released 4 years prior to the RX1 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-P1 scores against the RX1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Sony RX1

 E-P1 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus E-P1

 RX1 E-P1 
LaunchedFebruary 2013July 2009More recent by 43 months
Display resolution1229k230kCrisper display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Sony RX1

 E-P1 RX1 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-P1 features physical dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Sony RX1 has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P1 versus Sony RX1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-P1 and the RX1.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and RX1 is 86 and 79 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the difference between sensor measurements merely by looking at technical specs. The graphic here will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and RX1.

As you have seen, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-P1 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony RX1 will give you more detail as a result of its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older E-P1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography details
Sony RX1 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
81
manual focus
high flash sync (1/4,000s)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
features face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Street photography camera
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
66
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others in class (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography information
Sony RX1 Sports photography information
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
low battery (300 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
53
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
Travel photography with Sony RX1
43
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery (300 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
62
megapixel count good (24MP)
has built in flash
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (270 CIPA)
heavier than others in class (482 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Landscape photography camera
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
64
manual focus
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3")
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
Vlogging with Sony RX1
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
34
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic port
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others in class (482g)
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Sony RX1
 Olympus PEN E-P1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-07-29 2013-02-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s 1/4000s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 grams (0.78 lbs) 482 grams (1.06 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 93
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 25.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 14.3
DXO Low light score 536 2534
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 270 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $182 $2,798