Olympus E-PL1 vs. Panasonic LX10: A Practical Comparison for Discerning Photographers

In today’s ultra-competitive camera market, sorting through specs and marketing fluff to find the right tool for your photographic ambitions is no small feat. Having personally tested thousands of cameras over the last 15+ years, I’ve seen gadgets that dazzle with specs but disappoint in hand - and others that quietly deliver remarkable results day in, day out. Today, we pit two cameras from different eras and categories against each other: the Olympus PEN E-PL1, an early Micro Four Thirds mirrorless entry-level workhorse from 2010, versus the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10, a 2016 compact powerhouse with a large 1-inch sensor. Both are priced moderately on the used/entry-level scale - yet offer wildly different approaches to photography.

Let’s dive deep to help you decide which fits your needs best - whether portrait, travel, macro, or video - and which delivers the best bang for your buck today.

Form and Feel: Handling Ergonomics Across Eras

The first impression - how a camera feels in your hands - can make or break the shooting experience. Here, the Olympus E-PL1 sports a classic rangefinder-style mirrorless body with simple, solid construction. Measuring 115x72x42mm and weighing 334g, it is compact yet still offers physical controls that beginners can learn on effectively. The Micro Four Thirds system lens mount supports over 100 native lenses, making it a flexible investment for those looking to expand their kit.

The Panasonic LX10 is even smaller, at 106x60x42mm and 310g - with a built-in 24-72mm f/1.4-2.8 equivalent zoom lens. It’s a straightforward grab-and-go solution for those who value portability and don’t want to fuss with interchangeable glass. The lens offers impressive speed for a compact, particularly helpful in low-light shooting.

Both cameras lack weather sealing, so keep that in mind for adventures in heralded landscapes and wet conditions.

Control Layout and Usability

Though both cameras aim for simplicity, a look at their top controls and dials reveals modern thinking in the LX10 and the learning-focused layout in the E-PL1.

Olympus offers an intuitive physical mode dial, shutter speed and aperture priority modes, plus exposure compensation - perfect for those learning the ropes. The LX10 adopts a more streamlined modern design, with touch controls on its tilting 3-inch LCD, ideal for creative angles and quick setting changes, while the E-PL1 has a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with a modest resolution of 230k dots. The LX10’s touchscreen and tilting capability (1040k dots!) make live-view composition much more versatile, and autofocus control smoother.

If you love manual dials but want some touchscreen convenience, the LX10 bridges that gap well, whereas the E-PL1 sticks to bare-bones manual controls that reward learning without touchscreen distractions.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Breaking down sensor performance, the Olympus E-PL1 boasts a 12MP Four Thirds sensor sized 17.3x13mm - quite large for 2010 standards but smaller than many contemporary models. The Panasonic LX10 packs a newer, 20MP 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor (13.2x8.8mm), which while physically smaller than the Four Thirds sensor, benefits from back-illuminated architecture improving light gathering, especially in low light.

Resolving power here favors the LX10: 5472x3648 pixels compared to Olympus’s 4032x3024. For large prints or landscape details, the LX10 wins by sheer pixel count. However, pixel size matters, too - Olympus pixels are inherently larger, which can improve noise performance per pixel but has to be balanced against sensor tech.

DxOMark Scores for Color Depth, Dynamic Range, and ISO Performance

• Olympus E-PL1: Overall 54, Color Depth 21.5, Dynamic Range 10.1 EV, Low Light ISO 487
• Panasonic LX10: Overall 20, Color Depth 22.8, Dynamic Range 12.5 EV, Low Light ISO 581

Surprising to many, Olympus outperforms Panasonic on overall score here, mainly due to sensor size. But LX10’s newer sensor tech outclasses it in dynamic range and noise handling at higher ISOs.

For daylight and landscape fans, the LX10’s higher resolution and dynamic range will deliver punchy, detailed shots with excellent highlight and shadow retention. Portrait shooters will appreciate Panasonic’s superior skin tone rendering thanks to its balanced color depth and noise control.

The Viewing Experience: LCD and Viewfinder Options

No built-in viewfinder on either camera limits composition options in bright sun, but both provide live view on the LCD. The Olympus E-PL1’s fixed screen feels outdated in resolution and size compared to the LX10’s 3-inch 1040k dot touchscreen that tilts for creative viewpoints. I’ve found the Panasonic’s touchscreen substantially speeds up AF point selection and menu navigation.

For those who value eye-level shooting, Olympus users can buy an optional electronic viewfinder add-on - a modest accessory compared to integrated hybrid finders on modern cameras. The LX10 omits viewfinder options altogether, keeping the design compact but slightly less versatile on bright days or fast-paced street shooting.

Olympus E PL1 front Olympus E PL1 screen back Panasonic LX10 front Panasonic LX10 screen back

Real-World Image Performance Across Photography Genres

Let’s see how these cameras stack up in actual shooting scenarios.

Portrait Photography

Olympus E-PL1 delivers pleasing skin tones with its Four Thirds sensor's natural color science, but the 12MP resolution limits large print cropping. Its contrast-detection autofocus with 11 focus points, including face detection, works reliably indoors, but can hunt in low light.

Panasonic’s LX10 shines with its fast f/1.4 aperture at wide angle producing creamy bokeh, plus a more sophisticated 49 AF points aiding eye detection and face tracking. Sharpness and detail at 20MP mean portraits come out looking crisp, with excellent background separation.

Verdict: For dedicated portaiture, the LX10 offers more versatility and quality, but beginners can learn effectively with the E-PL1.

Landscape Photography

Cropping and detail retention favor the Panasonic LX10’s higher resolution files, combined with its impressive dynamic range and 1” sensor. Landscapes in harsh midday light benefit from its better highlight roll-off.

Olympus offers larger pixel size which helps noise in shadows but dynamic range is more limited, meaning less room for post-processing rescue on RAW files.

The Olympus’s image stabilization provides an edge for low shutter speeds handheld, important for golden-hour shooting, but the LX10 also employs sensor-shift stabilization for handheld sharpness.

Verdict: The LX10’s higher resolution and DR make it better suited to landscape photographers aiming for detail-rich images.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Neither camera is a dedicated high-speed shooter; burst rates max out at 3 fps on the Olympus and a more nimble 10 fps on the LX10 - better but still moderate.

Autofocus systems rely on contrast detection; neither has phase-detection autofocus common in modern models, leading to slower and sometimes less reliable tracking for fast subjects. LX10’s richer AF point spread helps somewhat.

Olympus’s larger Four Thirds sensor with extensive lens options offers advantages when paired with telephoto zooms for wildlife reach, whereas the LX10’s built-in lens tops out at 72mm equivalent, limiting distant subject framing.

Verdict: For casual wildlife and sports, LX10’s burst rate is handy but lens limitations hold it back. Olympus keyboard clubs for your thumbs with better lens reach - but slower FPS.

Street Photography

Size, discreteness, and rapid AF are all critical here. Both fall short on AF speed compared to modern mirrorless - but their compact shapes help in blending in.

The Olympus E-PL1’s fixed screen and lack of touchscreen hinder quick setting adjustments - something street shooters often crave. LX10’s discreet size, tilting touchscreen, and fast lens help capture momentary street scenes more fluidly.

Low light performance tips slightly in LX10’s favor, supporting faster shutter and higher ISO without noise overruns.

Verdict: Panasonic LX10 is better optimized for street enthusiasts seeking portability and rapid responsiveness.

Macro Photography

Macro shooters want sharp precise focus within close distances. Olympus’s native micro four-thirds lenses often include dedicated macro glass, plus the larger sensor aids shallow depth of field control.

The LX10’s fixed lens features a wonderful 3cm minimum focusing distance and wide aperture for macro capture, plus focus bracketing and stacking features to boost sharpness.

While Olympus lacks focus stacking or post-focus tools, LX10 gives the user creative macro tools unseen on the older model.

Verdict: LX10 edges macro enthusiasts wanting straightforward, high-quality close-ups and stacking.

Night and Astrophotography

Low-light high ISO performance depends on sensor tech and noise control. Olympus tops at ISO 3200 max native, Panasonic pushes to 12,800 with a much better Noise IQ.

Dynamic range for astrophotography is also key - LX10’s higher DR and newer sensor tech have it beat here with less clipping of shadows and highlights.

Neither is ideal for prolonged bulb exposures (Olympus stops at 2000 sec max), but the LX10’s electronic shutter goes up to 1/16000s for creative exposure control.

Verdict: LX10 suits casual night shooters better, but astrophotography purists might look to alternative dedicated astro gear.

Video Capabilities

Here Olympus struggles with HD-only 720p @30fps video, recorded in Motion JPEG - a format both bulky and inefficient by today’s standards.

Panasonic LX10 shoots clean 4K UHD at 30 fps, 100 Mbps, both MP4 and H.264 codecs with AAC audio. It also includes 4K photo modes allowing extraction of 8MP stills from video bursts - a feature content creators love.

Neither has mic or headphone ports, so serious videographers will eventually need external audio solutions.

Verdict: Panasonic LX10 is far superior for video-makers wanting quality 4K footage on a lightweight compact.

Travel Photography

For travelers, weight, versatility, battery life, and durability matter. Olympus and Panasonic both weigh around 310-335g, so fit comfortably in a jacket pocket or small camera bag.

Panasonic’s integrated zoom obviates the need for carrying extra lenses, though Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds system lets you swap in ultra-wide, telephoto, or prime lenses adapted to your itinerary.

Battery life slightly favors Olympus (290 vs 260 shots per charge), but neither is a marathon runner, so bringing spares is key.

Neither offers weather sealing, so plan for rain or dust accordingly.

Verdict: LX10 is excellent for minimalists wanting high-quality images without lens swapping; Olympus benefits those wanting system flexibility on trips.

Professional Work Considerations

For professional photographers, file quality, workflow compatibility, and reliability matter alongside rugged build.

Olympus shoots RAW files compatible with most post-processing software and has a modest but solid reputation for dependability. However, lack of weather sealing and modest autofocus restrict professional adoption.

Panasonic’s larger megapixel count generates sharper files, but the fixed lens limits system flexibility. No weather sealing is a drawback here too.

Neither camera supports advanced tethering or dual slot backup storage, essentials in professional workflows.

Verdict: These are both more enthusiast or secondary cameras for pros, not frontline tools.

Performance Summary: Where Each Camera Excels

Who Should Consider Olympus E-PL1?

• Budget-conscious beginners wanting to learn mirrorless photography
• Photographers valuing an interchangeable lens system without breaking the bank
• Fans of classic four-thirds sensor look and color science
• Users prioritizing manual exposure controls with simplified menus
• Those who primarily shoot portraits, casual landscapes, or family events on a budget

Who Should Lean Towards Panasonic LX10?

• Enthusiasts who demand a compact, capable advanced pocket camera
• Travel photographers needing 4K video and quick focusing in a small package
• Portrait shooters wanting shallow depth of field and creamy bokeh without extra lenses
• Macro photographers or content creators valuing focus bracketing, stacking, and post-focus modes
• Street photographers desiring fast burst speed and easy touchscreen control

Final Verdict: Match Your Camera to Your Creative Priorities

Choosing between the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic LX10 is not as much about better or worse as it is about which strengths make the most sense for your photography journey.

If your path leads toward growing a flexible system, practicing manual controls, and spending less upfront, the E-PL1 delivers solid image quality and interchangeable lenses at an appealing price. It’s a great learning tool and solid first mirrorless option.

If you crave versatility in a small package, superior image quality, advanced video, and creative features like focus stacking, your pockets will thank you for the LX10 - though you’ll pay double the price. Its fast lens and touchscreen make it a joy for travel, portraits, and video-focused workflows.

Parting Shot

Both cameras remain respectable for their intended audiences. The Olympus E-PL1 is a nostalgic entry into mirrorless with respectable imaging chops, while the Panasonic LX10 is a versatile compact powerhouse for enthusiasts seeking quality and speed in a tiny bundle.

Ultimately, pick the camera that fits your creative style, budget, and how you want to shoot - because great photos come from passion and practice, not just top specs.

Happy shooting!

(Image credits: All photos by author. Specifications sourced from official manufacturer data and DxOMark testing.)