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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12 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
  • Introduced May 2010
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced January 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and SZ-12 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was manufactured 20 months earlier than the SZ-12 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-PL1 scores vs the SZ-12 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus SZ-12

 E-PL1 SZ-12 
Manually focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus E-PL1

 SZ-12 E-PL1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012May 2010More recent by 20 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SZ-12

 E-PL1 SZ-12 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 provides external measurements 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-12 has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 versus the SZ-12.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and SZ-12 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements only by checking out specifications. The visual here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and SZ-12.

Plainly, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Olympus SZ-12 will show extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The older E-PL1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography features
Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography factors
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography factors
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography details
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography details
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery (290 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (290 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
65
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low battery pack (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery (290 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery pack (220 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging factors
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging factors
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone support
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus SZ-12
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-05-17 2012-01-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
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 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1700s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lb) 226 gr (0.50 lb)
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 Overall 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 images 220 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $288 $350