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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A330

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 front
Portability
67
Imaging
50
Features
50
Overall
50

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A330 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
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Sony A330
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 529g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A300
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A330 Overview

Following is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A330, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the A330 (10MP) is very close but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and A330 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was manufactured 13 months after the A330 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A330 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-PL1 grades against the A330 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony A330

 E-PL1 A330 
ReleasedMay 2010May 2009More modern by 13 months

Reasons to pick Sony A330 over the Olympus E-PL1

 A330 E-PL1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A330

 E-PL1 A330 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A330 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 provides external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Sony A330 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 529 grams (1.17 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A330 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-PL1 versus the A330.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A330 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and A330 is 86 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A330 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A330 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes merely by viewing a spec sheet. The image below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and A330.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus E-PL1 will provide you with greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern E-PL1 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A330 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A330 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A330 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A330 Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
62
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography factors
Sony A330 Street photography factors
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
75
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A330 as a Sports photography camera
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
50
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (10MP)
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography features
Sony A330 Travel photography features
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
44
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Sony A330
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
54
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
resolution not great (10MP)
terrible battery power (230 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A330 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic port
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A330 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A330
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-05-17 2009-05-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lb) 529 grams (1.17 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 64
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 11.5
DXO Low light rating 487 535
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 230 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $288 $545