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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870 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
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus TG-860
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both created by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and TG-870 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and TG-870 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL1 was announced 6 years before the TG-870 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-PL1 matches up against the TG-870 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus TG-870

 E-PL1 TG-870 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus E-PL1

 TG-870 E-PL1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016May 2010More modern by 68 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus TG-870

 E-PL1 TG-870 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 features outer 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 TG-870 has proportions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL1 against the TG-870.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and TG-870 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes just by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and TG-870.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 having a larger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Olympus TG-870 will provide you with more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-870
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
36
decent MP (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography advice
Olympus TG-870 Street photography advice
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
65
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
heavier than others in class (221 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography features
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography features
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery power (290 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery life (300 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery power (290 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
69
better than average battery life (300 shots)
weather proof
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (21mm)
heavier than others in class (221 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
50
really wide (21mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
weather proof
better than average battery life (300 per charge)
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
32
really wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of mic support
heavier than others in class (221 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2010-05-17 2016-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 lbs) 221g (0.49 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 300 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $288 $280