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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-50

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus SH-50 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-50 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed May 2010
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-50 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Olympus SH-50, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and SH-50 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and SH-50 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1 was revealed 3 years before the SH-50 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-PL1 matches up vs the SH-50 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus SH-50

 E-PL1 SH-50 

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Olympus E-PL1

 SH-50 E-PL1 
IntroducedJanuary 2013May 2010Newer by 32 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SH-50

 E-PL1 SH-50 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-50 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys exterior measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Olympus SH-50 has dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Olympus SH-50 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 vs the SH-50.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-50 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and SH-50 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-50 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing specs. The image here should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and SH-50.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus SH-50 will provide more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography details
Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography details
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
44
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography features
Olympus SH-50 Street photography features
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
has focus via touch
lighter than average (269 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SH-50 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (290 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
48
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography advice
Olympus SH-50 Travel photography advice
52
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than average (269g)
has focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Olympus SH-50
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
49
you can focus manually
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging information
Olympus SH-50 Vlogging information
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic support
34
really wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (269g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SH-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SH-50
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus SH-50
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus SH-50
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-05-17 2013-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 lb) 269g (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $288 $300