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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FZ80

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
62
Overall
51

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FZ80 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced May 2010
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic FZ80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 616g - 130 x 94 x 119mm
  • Introduced January 2017
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FZ82
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FZ80 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic FZ80, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and FZ80 (18MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and FZ80 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was launched 7 years earlier than the FZ80 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-PL1 scores vs the FZ80 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic FZ80

 E-PL1 FZ80 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ80 over the Olympus E-PL1

 FZ80 E-PL1 
IntroducedJanuary 2017May 2010Fresher by 80 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FZ80

 E-PL1 FZ80 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FZ80 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys outer dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ80 has measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") accompanied by a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic FZ80 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1 and the FZ80.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FZ80 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and FZ80 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FZ80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FZ80 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and FZ80.

As you can see, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FZ80 will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FZ80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FZ80 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
58
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (18MP)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FZ80 as a Street photography camera
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
54
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus via touch
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (616g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography details
Panasonic FZ80 Sports photography details
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (290 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
57
excellent zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
includes tracking focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography info
Panasonic FZ80 Travel photography info
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery power (290 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
59
comes with focus via touch
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (20mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
more heavy than competition in class (616g)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ80
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
57
you can focus manually
pretty wide (20mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ80 as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
28
pretty wide (20mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (616g)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FZ80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FZ80
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FZ82
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-05-17 2017-01-04
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Venus Engine
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 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 49
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 20-1200mm (60.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 14.10 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, 1st Curtain Sync, 2nd Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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) 616 grams (1.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 130 x 94 x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7")
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 photos 330 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 images x 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Price at release $288 $399