Comparing the Olympus E-P1 and Sony WX500: Which Camera Suits Your Creative Journey?

Choosing the right camera can feel overwhelming, especially when options span diverse styles, sensor types, and shooting capabilities. Today, we dive deep into comparing two distinct cameras that appeal to different photography tastes and skill levels: the Olympus PEN E-P1, a pioneering mirrorless camera from 2009, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500, a versatile compact superzoom from 2015.

With over 15 years of hands-on camera testing experience behind us, we aim to bring you a thorough, practical comparison that helps you decide how these two models could - or could not - fit your shooting goals.

First Impressions: Size, Design, and Ergonomics

When you pick up the Olympus E-P1, your fingers will immediately notice its rangefinder-style mirrorless body, reminiscent of classic cameras yet built with digital tech in mind. Measuring 121x70x36 mm and weighing 355 grams, the E-P1 offers a substantial grip for an entry-level mirrorless, emphasizing manual control comfort over compactness.

On the other side, the Sony WX500 is a compact travel companion. Its dimensions are 102x58x36 mm, and it weighs only 236 grams - much lighter and easier to slip into a pocket or small bag. The camera’s pocketability lends itself well to street and travel photography where discretion and portability matter.

Ergonomic Considerations

• Olympus E-P1: Lacks a built-in viewfinder, but its body offers manual dials for shutter speed and aperture, encouraging manual exposure settings. The lack of an electronic viewfinder can challenge framing under bright light.
• Sony WX500: No viewfinder but features a tilting LCD, useful for low or high-angle shots, ideal for video and selfies (though it’s not explicitly selfie-focused). The zoom lens ring is motorized and controlled electronically, which feels less tactile but maintains portability.

Controls on the Olympus E-P1 lean towards photographers who prefer manual interference, while the Sony WX500 delivers a simpler, point-and-shoot interface with manual override modes.

If you prioritize comfortable manual control and a camera that feels like a traditional photographic tool, the Olympus wins on hand feel. For travel convenience and zoom versatility in a pocketable form factor, the Sony takes the lead.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Both cameras deliver quite different photographic experiences, largely shaped by their sensor sizes and image processing.

What These Specs Mean in Practice

The Olympus E-P1 boasts a Four Thirds sensor, considerably larger than the WX500’s small 1/2.3” sensor. This size advantage translates into better noise performance, greater dynamic range, and more control over depth of field. In real-world shooting, the Olympus captures images with smoother tonal gradation and better color depth, especially in low-light conditions.

The Sony WX500 impresses with a higher megapixel count and an extremely flexible 30x zoom, but its small sensor restricts its ability to manage noise and dynamic range. While Sony’s BSI-CMOS sensor is optimized for compact, zoom cameras and improves light sensitivity relative to older 1/2.3" sensors, it can’t fully compete with the larger Four Thirds sensor of the E-P1.

If ultimate image quality and raw file flexibility are top priorities, especially for editing and printing, the Olympus wins decisively.

User Interface and Display: Framing and Reviewing Your Shots

On the Olympus, you'll find a fixed 3-inch HyperCrystal LCD with 230k pixels and an anti-reflective coating, designed to help image preview even in bright sunlight. The screen is fixed and non-touch, which limits quick menu navigation but supports manual settings display effectively.

The Sony WX500 sports a 3-inch tilting LCD with 921k pixels, offering a significantly sharper image for playback and menu navigation. The tilt mechanism is extremely useful for shooting at awkward angles, such as overhead crowds or ground-level macro shots, increasing creative possibilities.

Neither camera includes an electronic viewfinder, a feature that modern mirrorless and many compacts now often offer for precise, glare-free framing.

The Nikon interface leans towards photographers who are comfortable using physical buttons and manual menus. Sony offers a more advanced display resolution and more flexible shooting angles but lacks touchscreen control.

Lens Options and Flexibility

Olympus E-P1: Micro Four Thirds Mount

The big advantage of the E-P1 lies in its lens ecosystem. Using the Micro Four Thirds mount, you have access to a huge range of over 100 lenses from Olympus, Panasonic, and third-party makers. This includes everything from ultra-wide primes to specialized macro and telephoto zooms.

• Standard kit lenses (~14-42mm)
• Fast primes for portraits (e.g., 45mm f/1.8)
• Macro lenses with close focusing capabilities
• Super-telephoto lenses suitable for wildlife

Such diversity means you can tailor your setup to your subject, whether you want creamy background blur for portraits or extreme telephoto reach.

Sony WX500: Fixed Zoom Lens

The WX500 has a 24-720mm equivalent zoom, covering wide to super-telephoto in one compact body. This translates to a 30x optical zoom, highly convenient for travel and wildlife photography when lens changing is impractical.

However, the fixed lens is quite slow at telephoto (max aperture f/6.4), limiting low-light performance and creative bokeh control. Also, the lack of lens interchangeability means you must rely on digital zoom or cropping for more specialized needs.

Autofocus Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

The E-P1’s autofocus relies on contrast detection with 11 selectable focus points. It performs adequately for still subjects but struggles with fast-moving subjects or in low-contrast environments. Moreover, face detection improves portraits but lacks more advanced tracking.

Sony WX500’s autofocus includes face-detection and continuous tracking AF, making it more reliable for moving subjects and casual wildlife or street shooting. The 10 fps burst mode complements this by enabling capture of fleeting moments, although the smaller sensor limits image quality.

For wildlife or sports where you need rapid focus tracking, Sony may give you edge, while Olympus’s focus system suffices for landscapes, portraits, and static scenes.

Shooting Experience Across Disciplines

Let's examine how each camera performs across different photography genres, reflecting real shooting conditions.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus E-P1: Larger sensor and Micro Four Thirds lenses allow for better background separation and bokeh. Face and eye detection work moderately well but lack current AI enhancements.
• Sony WX500: Smaller sensor limits shallow depth of field. Face detection is good, but bokeh is flatter due to smaller aperture and sensor size.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus E-P1: Superior dynamic range (~10.4 EV) and higher base ISO settings enable capturing wide tonal ranges in challenging lighting.
• Sony WX500: Limited dynamic range on small sensor; fixed lens reduces framing versatility but wide-angle starting focal length is useful.

Wildlife Photography

• Olympus E-P1: Lens options allow telephoto reach but burst rate is only 3 fps; AF tracking is limited.
• Sony WX500: 30x zoom lens with continuous AF and 10 fps burst make it more effective for spontaneous wildlife action.

Sports Photography

• Olympus E-P1: Slow (3 fps) continuous shooting and AF lag reduce suitability for fast sports.
• Sony WX500: 10 fps burst helps capture motion, but autofocus precision in tricky lighting is challenging.

Street Photography

• Olympus E-P1: Larger size and lack of viewfinder decrease discretion, but better image quality and manual controls appeal to thoughtful street shooters.
• Sony WX500: Compactness and zoom flexibility favor street shooting, though image quality is modest.

Macro Photography

• Olympus E-P1: Supports dedicated macro lenses achieving close focusing and high magnification.
• Sony WX500: Fixed lens supports macro at 5cm but with typical superzoom optical compromises.

Night / Astro Photography

• Olympus E-P1: Larger sensor and better ISO performance give a solid advantage in low light; manual exposure modes aid creative control.
• Sony WX500: Higher max ISO but heavy noise beyond ISO 800; limited manual control.

Video Capabilities

Sony WX500 clearly outperforms with better Full HD video, higher frame rates, and optical stabilization for handheld clarity. Olympus video is basic and more of a secondary feature.

Travel Photography

Here, both cameras have merits:

• Olympus E-P1’s versatility through interchangeable lenses offers creative freedom but at the cost of extra gear.
• Sony WX500 excels for casual travel due to compact size, zoom flexibility, and longer battery life (360 shots vs. 300).

Durability and Build Quality

Both cameras have no environmental sealing, no weatherproofing, and lack robust shock- or freeze-resistance. The E-P1 feels sturdier with its metal construction compared to the mostly plastic body of the WX500.

For professional use outdoors in challenging conditions, neither stands out.

Connectivity and Storage

Sony’s wireless connectivity adds convenient image transfer and remote camera control, great for social media sharing. Olympus expects users to rely on wired transfer and manual card handling.

Battery Life

Sony WX500 holds a moderate edge with 360 shots per charge vs. Olympus E-P1’s 300 shots, a noticeable but not decisive factor depending on shooting habits.

Olympus E P1 front Olympus E P1 screen back Sony WX500 front Sony WX500 screen back

Final Performance Ratings and Value Analysis

Bringing all factors together, here’s how the cameras rank in overall performance and price value.

Specialized Recommendations by Photography Genre

• Portrait photographers who want creamy background blur and manual control should lean towards the Olympus E-P1, provided they invest in quality Micro Four Thirds primes.
• Landscape lovers benefit from the Olympus’s larger sensor and better dynamic range.
• Wildlife and sports shooters needing fast autofocus and high burst should consider the Sony WX500’s zoom and burst rate despite image quality compromises.
• Street and travel photographers valuing compactness and zoom versatility will appreciate the Sony’s pocketability and superior video.
• Macro enthusiasts gain more from the Olympus ecosystem due to dedicated macro lenses and precise controls.
• Astro and night shooters will find the Olympus’s sensor capabilities more suitable.

Wrapping Up: Choosing Your Camera Based on Your Needs

Final Thoughts From Our Experience

While the Olympus PEN E-P1 may feel dated in some respects, it remains a compelling option for enthusiasts craving manual control and lens adaptability on a budget. The larger sensor delivers visually superior stills for discerning photographers.

The Sony WX500, meanwhile, targets casual to enthusiast shooters desiring a versatile, compact travel companion. It excels in zoom reach and video specs, suitable for those valuing convenience and fast autofocus over absolute image quality.

Both cameras capture the essence of innovation in their eras and offer creative paths tailored for distinct needs. We encourage you to handle both if possible, weighing your top priorities. Dive into each camera’s lens options, shooting style, and platform support before committing.

Whichever you choose, both can serve as trusted tools to ignite or expand your photographic journey.

Happy shooting! And remember - the best camera is the one you enjoy learning and creating with every day. Check out lens options for the Olympus E-P1 and explore travel-friendly accessories for the Sony WX500 to get started strong.

Disclaimer: Specifications and performance evaluations based on hands-on testing, official manufacturer data, and industry benchmarks as of June 2024.