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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony S2100

Portability
86
Imaging
46
Features
42
Overall
44
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony S2100 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
  • Successor is Olympus E-P2
Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony S2100 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-P1 versus Sony S2100, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the S2100 (12MP) is fairly close but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and S2100 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was introduced 5 months earlier than the S2100 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-P1 scores versus the S2100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Sony S2100

 E-P1 S2100 
Manually focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Olympus E-P1

 S2100 E-P1 

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Sony S2100

 E-P1 S2100 
LaunchedJuly 2009January 2010Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 provides physical dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Sony S2100 has measurements of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P1 versus Sony S2100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-P1 against the S2100.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and S2100 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizing just by viewing specifications. The photograph below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P1 and S2100.

Plainly, each of these cameras come with the identical MP but not the same sensor sizing. The E-P1 has got the larger sensor which will make obtaining bokeh less difficult.

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography advice
Sony S2100 Portrait photography advice
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
20
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography info
Sony S2100 Street photography info
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
46
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography info
Sony S2100 Sports photography info
39
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery life (300 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
17
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200 seconds)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography highlights
Sony S2100 Travel photography highlights
43
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
50
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography advice
Sony S2100 Landscape photography advice
60
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
27
screen size is decent (3 inches)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S2100 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic jack
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus E-P1 vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Sony S2100
 Olympus PEN E-P1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-07-29 2010-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-105mm (3.2x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 1s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1200s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 355g (0.78 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $182 $0