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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX100

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX100 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
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Renewed by Olympus E-P2
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 II
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX100 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus E-P1 and Sony RX100, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and RX100 (20MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and RX100 (1") enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was released 4 years prior to the RX100 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-P1 grades versus the RX100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Sony RX100

 E-P1 RX100 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Olympus E-P1

 RX100 E-P1 
ReleasedAugust 2012July 2009Newer by 37 months
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Sony RX100

 E-P1 RX100 
Manually 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 RX100 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 has exterior 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) and the Sony RX100 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P1 and Sony RX100 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-P1 and the RX100.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and RX100 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions only by checking out technical specs. The picture underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and RX100.

As you can tell, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-P1 due to its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Sony RX100 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography features
Sony RX100 Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
64
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
has face detection focusing
supports RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography details
Sony RX100 Street photography details
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
79
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (240g)
good high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography information
Sony RX100 Sports photography information
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
low fps (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
65
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
has tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
Travel photography with Sony RX100
43
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery (300 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
79
lighter than competition in class (240g)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P1
Landscape photography with Sony RX100
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
74
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic jack
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (240g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Sony RX100
 Olympus PEN E-P1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-07-29 2012-08-28
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
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 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s 1/2000s
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 input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 grams (0.78 lbs) 240 grams (0.53 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 66
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 12.4
DXO Low light score 536 390
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 330 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $182 $448