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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Revealed September 2011
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

The following is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and RZ18 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The E-PL1 was brought out 16 months earlier than the RZ18 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL1 grades against the RZ18 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax RZ18

 E-PL1 RZ18 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Olympus E-PL1

 RZ18 E-PL1 
RevealedSeptember 2011May 2010Newer by 16 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax RZ18

 E-PL1 RZ18 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 features external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Pentax RZ18 has proportions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL1 against the RZ18.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and RZ18 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions purely by going through specs. The image here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and RZ18.

All in all, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax RZ18 will provide more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Pentax RZ18
60
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
36
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography details
Pentax RZ18 Street photography details
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
lighter than competition (178 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography information
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography information
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
47
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography advice
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than competition (178 grams)
environment sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography features
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
49
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Pentax RZ18
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
30
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (178g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax RZ18
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax Optio RZ18
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-05-17 2011-09-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds -
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 file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lb) 178 grams (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 All around 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 -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID 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/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $288 $210