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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax Optio I-10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10 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
Pentax I-10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2010
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the I-10 (12MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and I-10 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was manufactured 4 months after the I-10 and they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax I-10 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-PL1 grades versus the I-10 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax I-10

 E-PL1 I-10 

Reasons to pick Pentax I-10 over the Olympus E-PL1

 I-10 E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax I-10

 E-PL1 I-10 
AnnouncedMay 2010January 2010Similar age
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys outside dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Pentax I-10 has dimensions of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL1 vs the I-10.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and I-10 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by going over technical specs. The image here might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and I-10.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 has the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax I-10 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
27
focusing manually
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax I-10 as a Street photography camera
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Pentax I-10
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (290 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Pentax I-10
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
57
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Pentax I-10 Landscape photography info
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery (290 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
36
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Pentax I-10
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
28
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax I-10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax I-10
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax Optio I-10
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax Optio I-10
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-05-17 2010-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 gr (0.74 lbs) 153 gr (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
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 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $288 $310