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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
Portability
85
Imaging
58
Features
76
Overall
65

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced May 2010
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL1s
Sony NEX-6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Revealed March 2013
  • Replacement is Sony A6000
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and NEX-6 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-6 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was released 3 years prior to the NEX-6 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PL1 grades versus the NEX-6 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony NEX-6

 E-PL1 NEX-6 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Olympus E-PL1

 NEX-6 E-PL1 
RevealedMarch 2013May 2010Newer by 34 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony NEX-6

 E-PL1 NEX-6 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys external measurements 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 NEX-6 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL1 against the NEX-6.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and NEX-6 is 86 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions just by going over specs. The image below will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and NEX-6.

All in all, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sony NEX-6 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-6 Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
74
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography information
Sony NEX-6 Street photography information
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
78
screen tilts up and down
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (345g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Sony NEX-6
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery power (290 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
66
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
75
lighter than competitors in class (345g)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-6 Landscape photography factors
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
75
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-6 Vlogging highlights
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic jack
32
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (345g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
no mic socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony NEX-6
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Alpha NEX-6
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Alpha NEX-6
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2010-05-17 2013-03-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
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 surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 99
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45�
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lb) 345 gr (0.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 78
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 13.1
DXO Low light rating 487 1018
Other
Battery life 290 images 360 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $288 $365