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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus XZ-1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus XZ-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus XZ-1 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
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus XZ-1 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus XZ-1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the XZ-1 (10MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and XZ-1 (1/1.63") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1 was announced 8 months earlier than the XZ-1 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-PL1 scores vs the XZ-1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus XZ-1

 E-PL1 XZ-1 

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Olympus E-PL1

 XZ-1 E-PL1 
RevealedJanuary 2011May 2010More modern by 8 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution614k230kClearer screen (+384k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus XZ-1

 E-PL1 XZ-1 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus XZ-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 offers outer measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Olympus XZ-1 has measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus XZ-1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1 and the XZ-1.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus XZ-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and XZ-1 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus XZ-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus XZ-1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading technical specs. The image underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and XZ-1.

As you can tell, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL1 will deliver more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus XZ-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography features
Olympus XZ-1 Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
45
focusing manually
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography advice
Olympus XZ-1 Street photography advice
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
more heavy than competition in class (275g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography details
Olympus XZ-1 Sports photography details
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery power (290 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
38
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
great battery life (320 CIPA)
low fps (2.0 fps)
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography info
Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography info
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery power (290 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
62
great battery life (320 per charge)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (275 grams)
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography information
Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography information
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery power (290 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
54
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (320 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.63")
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging advice
Olympus XZ-1 Vlogging advice
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
31
relatively wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
does not contain selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (275 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus XZ-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus XZ-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus XZ-1
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus XZ-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-05-17 2011-01-26
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.63"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 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 3664 x 2752
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 614k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
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
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lb) 275 grams (0.61 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 34
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 18.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 10.4
DXO Low light score 487 117
Other
Battery life 290 images 320 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail price $288 $567