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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-4

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-4 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-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-3
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-5
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-4 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL1 versus Olympus TG-4, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are built by Olympus. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and TG-4 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and TG-4 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was launched 5 years before the TG-4 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-PL1 matches up vs the TG-4 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus TG-4

 E-PL1 TG-4 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Olympus E-PL1

 TG-4 E-PL1 
IntroducedApril 2015May 2010Newer by 59 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus TG-4

 E-PL1 TG-4 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-4 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 features outer dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Olympus TG-4 has sizing of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Olympus TG-4 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL1 against the TG-4.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-4 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and TG-4 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-4 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing specs. The pic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and TG-4.

All in all, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus TG-4 will offer extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-4 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography details
Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography details
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
47
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography advice
Olympus TG-4 Street photography advice
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (247g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography info
Olympus TG-4 Sports photography info
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (290 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
good battery life (380 shots)
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Olympus TG-4
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
74
good battery life (380 per charge)
weather proofing
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competition (247 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography factors
Olympus TG-4 Landscape photography factors
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
low MP (12MP)
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
62
has manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
good battery life (380 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Olympus TG-4
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
does not contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
34
decently wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition (247 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus TG-4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus TG-4
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus Tough TG-4
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus Tough TG-4
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2010-05-17 2015-04-13
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
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
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 7.90 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 247 grams (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
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 shots 380 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $288 $379