Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus 6020

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus 6020, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and both of them are designed by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the 6020 (13MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and 6020 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1 was released 4 months after the 6020 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus 6020 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PL1 matches up against the 6020 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL1 and Olympus Stylus Tough 6020. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL1 Gallery and Olympus 6020 Gallery.

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys physical dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Olympus 6020 has proportions of 95mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus 6020 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 against the 6020.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and 6020 is 86 and 95 respectively.

In many cases, it can be tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes purely by going over a spec sheet. The pic underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and 6020.

As you can see, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus 6020 will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively.