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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic TS20

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
28
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic TS20 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
  • Released May 2010
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic TS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 142g - 101 x 58 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FT20
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic TS20 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic TS20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and TS20 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and TS20 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1 was released 20 months prior to the TS20 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS20 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-PL1 scores versus the TS20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic TS20

 E-PL1 TS20 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS20 over the Olympus E-PL1

 TS20 E-PL1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012May 2010More modern by 20 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic TS20

 E-PL1 TS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic TS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 has got outer 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) and the Panasonic TS20 has measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 19mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic TS20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1 against the TS20.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic TS20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and TS20 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic TS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic TS20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The image here might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and TS20.

As you can see, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic TS20 will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic TS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic TS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic TS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic TS20 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
30
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography advice
Panasonic TS20 Street photography advice
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
67
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
lighter than others in class (142 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography features
Panasonic TS20 Sports photography features
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (290 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
41
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic TS20 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
70
lighter than others in class (142g)
weather proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Panasonic TS20
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (290 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging factors
Panasonic TS20 Vlogging factors
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic port
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (142g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic TS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic TS20
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
Other name - Lumix DMC-FT20
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2010-05-17 2012-01-31
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias 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 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.9-5.7
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 142 grams (0.31 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 101 x 58 x 19mm (4.0" 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 shots 250 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $288 $179