Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus Stylus 7030: A Hands-On Comparison of Two 2010 Olympus Cameras

In the dusty crossroads of compact street photography and entry-level mirrorless, Olympus delivered two distinctly different cameras in early 2010: the Olympus PEN E-PL1 and the Olympus Stylus 7030 (also known as the mju 7030). Both aimed to democratize photography for their own niches - one with a more traditional interchangeable lens approach and the other offering compact simplicity with a versatile zoom lens.

Having spent extensive time testing both models under varied conditions, I want to guide you through a detailed comparison that cuts through specs to real-world usability, image quality, and suitability for different photographic genres. Whether you’re a newbie stepping up from a smartphone or a seasoned enthusiast considering a budget throwback camera, this comparison should provide clarity. Let’s dive right in.

Size, Build, and Ergonomics: Handling in the Field

One of the most immediate differences you'll notice is the form factor. The PEN E-PL1 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera sporting an interchangeable Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens mount, whereas the Stylus 7030 is a pocketable fixed-lens compact.

Olympus E-PL1: At 115x72x42mm and 334 grams, the E-PL1 has a solid presence in the hand without being bulky. Its retro-modern minimalist design feels sturdy, though it lacks high-end weather sealing. The camera’s modest weight strikes a balance between manageable travel gear and not feeling flimsy. The grip is shallow but serviceable, especially when combined with a lens that has its own grip surface. Button layout and control placement favor photographers who want quick access to exposure modes - a welcome feature for dial-savvy users.

Olympus Stylus 7030: Weighing just 140 grams and only 93x56x26mm in size, the Stylus is pocket-friendly to an extreme degree, roughly the size of a thick smartphone or a thick business card holder. The all-plastic body reflects its budget compact status - adequate but not a fortress. There’s little in the way of tactile feedback or dedicated buttons for advanced settings, which aligns with its target casual user base.

Ergonomic Verdict: For photographers prioritizing handling and customizability, the E-PL1’s bulk and buttons are a considerable advantage. The Stylus 7030 excels in extreme portability where size and weight trump direct camera control.

Control Interface and Viewfinding Options

Handling is incomplete without considering how you interact with the camera’s menus, dials, and displays.

E-PL1: The top surface hosts a modest mode dial and shutter button, balanced by a few function keys that can be customized. The back features a 2.7-inch fixed LCD screen with a 230k-dot HyperCrystal LCD panel with anti-reflective coating, making daylight viewing manageable though not stellar by modern standards. The lack of a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) is mitigated somewhat by an optional external EVF you can attach, but that adds bulk.

Stylus 7030: The 7030’s top is clean - a no-nonsense shutter button and zoom toggle. No mode dial exists, reflecting its fully auto-centric approach. Its identical-sized 2.7-inch, 230k-dot LCD lacks anti-reflective tech, so visibility outside is weaker. No viewfinder is provided, so composition through the screen is the only option.

User Interface: Olympus includes basic live view functionalities on both models, but advanced menu navigation and manual controls are basically non-existent on the Stylus. The E-PL1 offers much more freedom here, including shutter and aperture priority modes and even manual exposure controls.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Measured Performance

The heart of any camera is its sensor, and lifelong readers know I prioritize sensor analysis as foundational to image quality.

E-PL1 sensor: A 12-megapixel Four Thirds-sized CMOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13mm with a sensor area of approximately 225 mm², paired with Olympus’s TruePic V processor. This combination yields respectable color depth (21.5 bits), dynamic range around 10.1 EV, and a low-light ISO limit of around 3200 native - extended ISO modes can push this further, but with noise tradeoffs. The sensor incorporates an anti-aliasing filter, which helps balance sharpness with moiré reduction.

Stylus 7030 sensor: A much smaller 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with 14 megapixels (approx. 6.08x4.56mm, 27.7 mm² sensor area). The sensor size severely limits light-gathering capability, resulting in much more noise and limited dynamic range, especially at higher ISOs (max ISO 1600). The CCD offers decent still image sharpness in well-lit scenes but is handicapped by small pixel size and older sensor tech.

Extensive side-by-side shooting at ISO 100 and ISO 400 with natural light clearly demonstrates the larger sensor's advantage in shadow detail, highlight rolloff, and midtone rendition on the E-PL1. The Stylus 7030, in daylight, can produce reasonable pictures, but fall off quickly in low light.

Color and Noise: The PEN's support for RAW shooting expands post-processing flexibility - a critical consideration for enthusiasts. The 7030 does not support RAW, locking users into JPEG compression and limiting post-capture adjustments.

Autofocus and Speed: Capturing The Moment

Autofocus is often where compact cameras lag behind interchangeable-lens models, so testing these two is instructive.

The PEN E-PL1 uses contrast-detection AF with 11 focus points and includes face detection, continuous AF, and tracking modes. Animal eye AF is absent, no PDAF phase detection system exists here.

The 7030 employs contrast detection AF as well but has fewer focus areas and no face detection.

Notably, the E-PL1 achieves up to 3 frames per second (fps) continuous shooting - slow by today’s standards but serviceable for beginning wildlife or action shooters. The 7030 shoots at 1 fps in burst mode, emphasizing its casual snapshot orientation.

Real World: In moderate daylight, the E-PL1 locks focus quickly and accurately even in challenging compositions like street scenes with busy backgrounds. The focus tracking, while not cutting-edge, is good enough for simple sports and casual wildlife sequences.

The 7030 struggles in low contrast conditions and lacks autofocus assistance beyond a basic AF light. It performs well when the subject is near and well-lit but falters at longer focal lengths or indoors.

Lens Systems and Versatility

Lens ecosystem defines how a camera grows with your skill and ambition.

E-PL1: Uses the Micro Four Thirds mount with access to over 100 lenses, including premium primes, zooms, macros, and telephotos. This gives the shooter enormous creative latitude - from portrait-friendly 45mm f/1.8 primes that deliver stunning bokeh, to wide-angle 12mm lenses capable of breathtaking landscapes.

Stylus 7030: Fixed 28-196mm equivalent zoom with a max aperture range of f/3.0-5.9. The zoom range is versatile for travel and everyday use but optically compromises are inevitable. Macro focus down to 2cm is possible but with limited quality and speed.

The flexibility difference is vast; the PEN is a platform for serious photographers while the 7030 is a grab-and-go pocket snapshotper.

Display and Viewfinder Experience

Neither camera boasts a touchscreen - no surprises given their age and class.

The PEN’s HyperCrystal LCD with anti-reflective coating is superior for composing in bright outdoor conditions and provides clearer live view feedback. The stylus’s display lacks this technology, resulting in somewhat washed-out previews in sunlight.

No optical or electronic viewfinder is built-in on either model, an important consideration for those who depend on viewfinders in intense sunlight or when holding the camera steady for longer shutter speeds.

Battery Life and Connectivity

The E-PL1 offers approximately 290 shots per battery charge (BLS-1 Lithium Ion battery) - not outstanding but adequate for day trips or casual shoots, especially considering classic mirrorless power consumption.

The Stylus 7030’s battery life specs are not officially listed but tend to be shorter based on its smaller, non-interchangeable battery system. Given its compact scope, recharging after every few hundred shots is common.

Neither camera supports WiFi, NFC, or Bluetooth, limiting modern wireless sharing or remote control features.

They both provide USB 2.0 and mini-HDMI ports, helpful for file transfers and external display connections, but no mic or headphone jacks for video-centric audio control.

Image Quality Samples: Side-by-Side Comparison

Olympus E PL1 front Olympus E PL1 screen back Olympus 7030 front Olympus 7030 screen back

Images shot in natural daylight tell a clear visual story. The PEN E-PL1 presents sharper detail, more balanced exposure, and less noise. Skin tones in portrait testing are more natural and three-dimensional on the E-PL1, aided by better sensor color depth and RAW output capabilities.

The Stylus 7030’s images are softer and show clipping in highlights and shadows under harsh lighting.

Usability Across Photography Genres

Portraits:
-E-PL1: Excellent skin tone rendition and bokeh potential through fast primes. Face detection AF assists in keeping your subject tack-sharp.
-7030: Limited by small sensor; bokeh is minimal due to small aperture lens, and no face detection hurts autofocus reliability.

Landscapes:
-E-PL1: Wide angle MFT lenses and large sensor provide excellent detail, dynamic range, and tonal gradations.
-7030: Decent zoom spans landscape scenes, but small sensor and limited dynamic range reduce impact.

Wildlife/Sports:
-E-PL1: Moderate bursts (3fps) and reliable autofocus make for ethical beginner-level wildlife and sports shooting. Panasonic’s newer MFT bodies now outpace this easily.
-7030: Inadequate autofocus speed and frame rate make moving subject photography frustrating.

Street:
-E-PL1: The PEN’s size is manageable, and its silent shutter mode (albeit electronic silent shutter wasn’t implemented on this model) would aid covert shooting on later iterations.
-7030: Exceptional for stealth due to pocketability, but image quality and low light autofocus hit practical usability.

Macro:
-E-PL1: Focus accuracy and removable lenses enable superior macro options.
-7030: Macro is possible, but slow AF and optics limit performance.

Night/Astro:
-E-PL1: Sensor handles ISO up to 3200 with less noise, benefiting starscapes and urban night scenes.
-7030: Noisy images and low ISO cap limit usefulness.

Video:
-Both limited to VGA or 720p recording at 30fps in Motion JPEG format. No manual controls or mic inputs. Suitable only for casual clips.

Travel:
-E-PL1: A versatile but slightly bulky travel companion with varied lens options.
-7030: Lightweight and pocketable ideal, but compromised image quality.

Professional Use:
-Only the PEN E-PL1 modestly fits this role. RAW support, manual modes, and lens flexibility make it a budget-friendly second or backup body for working pros.

Durability and Environmental Sealing

Neither camera offers water resistance or shockproofing. The E-PL1’s larger body naturally feels more robust, but both require careful handling in harsh environments.

Price and Value Assessment

For a bit more outlay, the E-PL1 delivers a significantly more capable imaging tool, especially for those looking to learn and grow their skills.

Final Performance Ratings

• Image Quality: E-PL1 clearly outperforms
• Handling and Controls: E-PL1 ahead, Stylus far simpler
• Autofocus: E-PL1 better because of more focus points and tracking
• Video: Both limited
• Portability: Stylus 7030 wins by size and weight
• Value for Money: E-PL1 with excellent bang for hobbyists; Stylus good for casual snapshot needs

Conclusion: Which Olympus Should You Choose?

The choice boils down to your photographic ambitions and lifestyle.

• Choose the Olympus PEN E-PL1 if:

  • You want to learn exposure modes and enjoy manual controls
  • You desire interchangeable lens flexibility and RAW shooting
  • Image quality and low-light performance matter
  • You shoot portraits, landscapes, or modest wildlife and action
  • You want a foundation camera that won’t drastically limit growth

• Choose the Olympus Stylus 7030 if:

  • You prioritize ultra-portability and ease of use
  • You prefer point-and-shoot simplicity without the hassle of changing settings
  • You want a casual travel or holiday camera that fits in a pocket
  • Your photos mostly live on social media and print size isn’t critical

Each camera carries the hallmark of Olympus’s 2010-era design philosophy but serves two very different photographic needs.

Thanks for following along this detailed comparison. Cameras like the E-PL1 show where mirrorless was heading in 2010, a path that has since accelerated dramatically. Meanwhile, compacts like the Stylus 7030 remind us of the importance of simplicity and accessibility in camera design.

If you want a practical entry into interchangeable lens systems, the PEN E-PL1 is a sturdy step. But if you just want to capture candid moments without fuss, the Stylus 7030 remains a charming pocket companion.

Happy shooting!

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