Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus XZ-1

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.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL1 and Olympus XZ-1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PL1 Gallery and Olympus XZ-1 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.