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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
13
Overall
26

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1 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
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic FP1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2010
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the FP1 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and FP1 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was revealed 5 months later than the FP1 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL1 scores vs the FP1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic FP1

 E-PL1 FP1 
Focus manually Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP1 over the Olympus E-PL1

 FP1 E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FP1

 E-PL1 FP1 
IntroducedMay 2010January 2010Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 features external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FP1 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the FP1.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and FP1 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing just by going through specs. The visual below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and FP1.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 contains the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field easier.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FP1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
21
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Panasonic FP1
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than competitors (151 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FP1 Sports photography highlights
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (290 per charge)
no phase detect AF
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography info
Panasonic FP1 Travel photography info
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery life (290 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
50
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (151g)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FP1 Landscape photography info
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
28
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FP1 Vlogging advice
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
more heavy than competitors (151g)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FP1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FP1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2010-05-17 2010-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.90 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 151 grams (0.33 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $288 $153