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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ 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
  • Launched May 2010
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Superseded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Updated by Olympus SP-820UZ
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Overview

Here is a complete review of the Olympus E-PL1 versus Olympus SP-820UZ, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the SP-820UZ (14MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and SP-820UZ (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was launched 3 years before the SP-820UZ and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL1 grades vs the SP-820UZ when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 E-PL1 SP-820UZ 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Olympus E-PL1

 SP-820UZ E-PL1 
AnnouncedAugust 2012May 2010Fresher by 27 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SP-820UZ

 E-PL1 SP-820UZ 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 has got outer measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Olympus SP-820UZ has dimensions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1 versus Olympus SP-820UZ in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 vs the SP-820UZ.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and SP-820UZ is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and SP-820UZ.

Clearly, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus SP-820UZ will offer more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography advice
Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography advice
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
34
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography details
Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography details
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
37
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (485g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography info
Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography info
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (290 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
33
excellent zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
decent megapixels (14MP)
slow fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (290 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
55
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
very long reach (896mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (485g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography features
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery power (290 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
35
reasonably wide (22mm)
screen size is decent (3")
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging information
Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging information
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
25
reasonably wide (22mm)
provides face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (485g)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SP-820UZ
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-05-17 2012-08-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 22-896mm (40.7x)
Largest aperture - f/3.4-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 15.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 485 grams (1.07 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7")
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 -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
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 Single Single
Pricing at release $288 $299