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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-310

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus TG-310 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-310 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus TG-310
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 96 x 63 x 23mm
  • Introduced January 2011
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-310 Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus TG-310, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof and they are both designed by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the TG-310 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and TG-310 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL1 was revealed 7 months earlier than the TG-310 so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-310 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-PL1 scores vs the TG-310 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus TG-310

 E-PL1 TG-310 
Manually focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-310 over the Olympus E-PL1

 TG-310 E-PL1 
IntroducedJanuary 2011May 2010More modern by 7 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus TG-310

 E-PL1 TG-310 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size2.7"2.7"Same display size
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-310 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 provides physical measurements 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 TG-310 has proportions of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") and a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus TG-310 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the TG-310.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-310 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and TG-310 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-310 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-310 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading through specs. The image underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and TG-310.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus TG-310 will give more detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-310 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-310 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-310 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-310
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography details
Olympus TG-310 Street photography details
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
66
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
lighter than competitors in class (155 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography info
Olympus TG-310 Sports photography info
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery (290 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (150 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography information
Olympus TG-310 Travel photography information
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery (290 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
67
lighter than competitors in class (155 grams)
weather proof
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (150 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-310 as a Landscape photography camera
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery (290 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
39
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
weather proof
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery pack (150 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging info
Olympus TG-310 Vlogging info
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone support
32
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
lighter than competitors in class (155g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-310 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus TG-310
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus TG-310
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus TG-310
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2010-05-17 2011-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-102mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.9-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology 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 speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lb) 155 gr (0.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 96 x 63 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9")
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 150 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 LI-42B
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 1 1
Cost at release $288 $0