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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10 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
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Replaced the Pentax Q
  • Refreshed by Pentax Q7
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the Q10 (12MP) is very comparable but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and Q10 (1/2.3") come with different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL1 was released 3 years before the Q10 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-PL1 grades versus the Q10 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax Q10

 E-PL1 Q10 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Olympus E-PL1

 Q10 E-PL1 
LaunchedSeptember 2012May 2010Newer by 28 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax Q10

 E-PL1 Q10 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 has got outside measurements 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 Q10 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1 vs the Q10.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and Q10 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing specs. The pic underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and Q10.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact megapixel count but different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 comes with the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler. The more aged E-PL1 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
Pentax Q10 Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
48
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (200g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Pentax Q10 Sports photography advice
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (290 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
36
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (270 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography details
Pentax Q10 Travel photography details
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (290 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
60
lighter than average in class (200g)
built-in flash
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Pentax Q10 Landscape photography info
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
54
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (270 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Pentax Q10
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (200 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax Q10
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax Q10
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax Q10
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-05-17 2012-09-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Total lenses 107 8
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 7.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 334g (0.74 pounds) 200g (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 21.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 10.9
DXO Low light rating 487 183
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 270 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $288 $350