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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10 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
  • Released May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax RZ10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-280mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released July 2011
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the RZ10 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and RZ10 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was brought out 14 months prior to the RZ10 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-PL1 matches up vs the RZ10 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax RZ10

 E-PL1 RZ10 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ10 over the Olympus E-PL1

 RZ10 E-PL1 
ReleasedJuly 2011May 2010Newer by 14 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax RZ10

 E-PL1 RZ10 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 comes with exterior measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Pentax RZ10 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1 versus the RZ10.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and RZ10 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and RZ10.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Pentax RZ10 will offer you more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
Pentax RZ10 Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
35
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Pentax RZ10
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax RZ10 Sports photography highlights
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (178 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RZ10 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
bad battery power (290 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
66
weather proofing
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
long zoom (280mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (178 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Pentax RZ10
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery power (290 per charge)
no Timelapse function
43
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery life (178 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Pentax RZ10
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone jack
28
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax RZ10
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax Optio RZ10
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax Optio RZ10
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-05-17 2011-07-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
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 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-280mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.2-5.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
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, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lb) 178 gr (0.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 images 178 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $288 $200