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Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX500

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX500 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
  • Announced May 2010
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Samsung NX300
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX500 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL1 and Samsung NX500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Samsung. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and NX500 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1 was brought out 5 years prior to the NX500 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-PL1 grades vs the NX500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Samsung NX500

 E-PL1 NX500 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Olympus E-PL1

 NX500 E-PL1 
IntroducedFebruary 2015May 2010More recent by 57 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1036k230kSharper display (+806k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Samsung NX500

 E-PL1 NX500 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 has external measurements 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 NX500 has dimensions of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1 and Samsung NX500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL1 vs the NX500.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and NX500 is 86 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading specifications. The visual here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and NX500.

Plainly, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Samsung NX500 will deliver greater detail having its extra 16MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
Samsung NX500 Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
80
you can focus manually
resolution is amazing (28 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Samsung NX500
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
81
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
comes with focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
low battery pack (290 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
75
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
resolution is amazing (28 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography advice
Samsung NX500 Travel photography advice
52
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
78
has bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
resolution is amazing (28 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
low battery pack (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
resolution is amazing (28 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging information
Samsung NX500 Vlogging information
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
34
screen is touchscreen
comes with face detect focus
great video quality (4096 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
no mic support
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Samsung NX500
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Samsung NX500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Samsung NX500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-05-17 2015-02-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V DRIMe 5
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 28MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 6480 x 4320
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 209
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Total lenses 107 32
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 1,036k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 4096x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG H.265
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 54 87
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 13.9
DXO Low light score 487 1379
Other
Battery life 290 images 370 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $288 $800