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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A380

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A380 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 A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Previous Model is Sony A350
  • Replacement is Sony A390
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A380 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A380, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the A380 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and A380 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1 was unveiled 9 months after the A380 so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL1 scores vs the A380 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony A380

 E-PL1 A380 
LaunchedMay 2010August 2009Newer by 9 months

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Olympus E-PL1

 A380 E-PL1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A380

 E-PL1 A380 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 features outside dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Sony A380 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A380 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 vs the A380.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A380 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and A380 is 86 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing technical specs. The pic below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and A380.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 with its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Sony A380 will deliver greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The newer E-PL1 will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
Sony A380 Portrait photography info
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Sony A380 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
77
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography details
Sony A380 Sports photography details
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery power (290 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
low battery life (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography advice
Sony A380 Travel photography advice
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (290 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
54
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
low battery life (500 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography advice
Sony A380 Landscape photography advice
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery power (290 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low battery life (500 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging highlights
Sony A380 Vlogging highlights
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A380
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-05-17 2009-08-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 lb) 519g (1.14 lb)
Physical 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 Overall score 54 67
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 11.8
DXO Low light score 487 614
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 500 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $288 $899