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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus SZ-11 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the SZ-11 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and SZ-11 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was unveiled 14 months prior to the SZ-11 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-PL1 matches up vs the SZ-11 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus SZ-11

 E-PL1 SZ-11 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Olympus E-PL1

 SZ-11 E-PL1 
LaunchedJuly 2011May 2010More modern by 14 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SZ-11

 E-PL1 SZ-11 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 features physical dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-11 has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1 against the SZ-11.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and SZ-11 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through specifications. The pic below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and SZ-11.

Plainly, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SZ-11 will produce greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-11
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
33
good MP (14MP)
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography factors
Olympus SZ-11 Street photography factors
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography factors
Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography factors
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
43
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-11 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
65
lighter than competition (226g)
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery (200 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography highlights
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
40
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
bad battery (200 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-11
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competition (226 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SZ-11
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus SZ-11
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus SZ-11
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-05-17 2011-07-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334g (0.74 pounds) 226g (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 200 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $288 $253