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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR 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
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released March 2011
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SZ-30MR, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are designed by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and SZ-30MR (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and SZ-30MR (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was introduced 9 months prior to the SZ-30MR so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-PL1 grades versus the SZ-30MR in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-PL1 SZ-30MR 
Manually focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus E-PL1

 SZ-30MR E-PL1 
ReleasedMarch 2011May 2010More recent by 9 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-PL1 SZ-30MR 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 features outside measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-30MR has dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SZ-30MR in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the SZ-30MR.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and SZ-30MR is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specifications. The photograph here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and SZ-30MR.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1 having a bigger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Olympus SZ-30MR will offer you extra detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
34
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography details
Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography details
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (290 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
65
lighter than others in class (226g)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse function
low battery pack (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography information
Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography information
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (290 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
41
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
34
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus SZ-30MR
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-05-17 2011-03-02
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS 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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
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
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount 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
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Hypercrystal III 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 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 grams (0.74 lbs) 226 grams (0.50 lbs)
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 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 photographs 220 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $288 $279