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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580 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
  • Released May 2010
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed May 2011
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580 Overview

The following is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and A580 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and A580 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was announced 12 months prior to the A580 which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-PL1 matches up vs the A580 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony A580

 E-PL1 A580 

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Olympus E-PL1

 A580 E-PL1 
RevealedMay 2011May 2010Newer by 12 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A580

 E-PL1 A580 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 offers outside dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Sony A580 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL1 against the A580.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and A580 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor dimensions only by viewing specs. The picture here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and A580.

All in all, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony A580 will result in greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A580 Portrait photography highlights
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Sony A580
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
75
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Sony A580 Sports photography advice
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (290 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking focus
great battery life (1,050 per charge)
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography info
Sony A580 Travel photography info
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery pack (290 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
great battery life (1,050 CIPA)
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A580 as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (1,050 shots)
two card slots
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Sony A580
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A580
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-05-17 2011-05-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 334 gr (0.74 lb) 599 gr (1.32 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 80
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 13.3
DXO Low light score 487 1121
Other
Battery life 290 photos 1050 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Two
Retail pricing $288 $848