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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus TG-820 iHS front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS 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
  • Announced May 2010
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus TG-820 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 206g - 101 x 65 x 26mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and both are sold by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the TG-820 iHS (12MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and TG-820 iHS (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was announced 21 months earlier than the TG-820 iHS which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-820 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the E-PL1 matches up against the TG-820 iHS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus TG-820 iHS

 E-PL1 TG-820 iHS 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-820 iHS over the Olympus E-PL1

 TG-820 iHS E-PL1 
LaunchedFebruary 2012May 2010Fresher by 21 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1030k230kCrisper screen (+800k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus TG-820 iHS

 E-PL1 TG-820 iHS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 has physical 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 TG-820 iHS has dimensions of 101mm x 65mm x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL1 against the TG-820 iHS.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and TG-820 iHS is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizing purely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and TG-820 iHS.

Clearly, the two cameras feature the identical MP albeit different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 comes with the bigger sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field simpler. The older E-PL1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
27
supports face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography advice
Olympus TG-820 iHS Street photography advice
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (290 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
34
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
59
environment proofing
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
38
quite wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
no manual mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone support
33
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus TG-820 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus TG-820 iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus TG-820 iHS
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2010-05-17 2012-02-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS 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 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.9-5.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 1,030k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating HyperCrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
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 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 206 grams (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 101 x 65 x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0")
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 220 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 LI-50B
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
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $288 $500