Clicky

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Samsung NX mini front
Portability
93
Imaging
51
Features
68
Overall
57

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini 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
  • Launched May 2010
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL1s
Samsung NX mini
(Full Review)
  • 20.5MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX-M Mount
  • 196g - 110 x 62 x 23mm
  • Revealed March 2014
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Samsung. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and NX mini (20.5MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and NX mini (1") boast different sensor sizing.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The E-PL1 was released 4 years earlier than the NX mini which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL1 scores against the NX mini with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Samsung NX mini

 E-PL1 NX mini 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX mini over the Olympus E-PL1

 NX mini E-PL1 
RevealedMarch 2014May 2010More modern by 46 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Samsung NX mini

 E-PL1 NX mini 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX mini has specifications of 110mm x 62mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 196 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL1 versus the NX mini.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and NX mini is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by researching a spec sheet. The image here will give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and NX mini.

As you can see, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Samsung NX mini will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 8.5MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography factors
Samsung NX mini Portrait photography factors
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
70
has manual focus
good MP (20.5MP)
sensor size is good (1")
has face detect focusing
saves RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography info
Samsung NX mini Street photography info
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
81
tilting screen
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW files
provides focus by touch
lighter than average in class (196 grams)
lack of image stabilization
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography features
Samsung NX mini Sports photography features
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery power (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
54
maximum shutter speed is high (1/16,000 seconds)
good MP (20.5 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
better than average battery (650 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Samsung NX mini
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low battery power (290 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
75
better than average battery (650 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (196 grams)
provides focus by touch
good MP (20.5MP)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Samsung NX mini Landscape photography features
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery power (290 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
68
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX-M mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good MP (20.5 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW files
better than average battery (650 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging features
Samsung NX mini Vlogging features
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic socket
37
touchscreen functionality
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone jack
lighter than average in class (196g)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Samsung NX mini
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Samsung NX mini
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Samsung NX mini
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2010-05-17 2014-03-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20.5MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 21
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX-M
Total lenses 107 2
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT-LCD (180 degree tilt)
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Smart Flash, auto, auto + redeye reduction, fill-in, fill-in + redeye reduction, 1st curtain, 2nd curtain
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 (all 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 grams (0.74 lb) 196 grams (0.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 110 x 62 x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 650 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 B740
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-30 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $288 $530