Olympus PEN E-PL1 vs Sony Alpha a3500 - An In-Depth Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

Choosing between two entry-level mirrorless cameras like the Olympus PEN E-PL1 and the Sony Alpha a3500 can feel like navigating a maze. Both aim to serve photographers stepping into the mirrorless realm but come from very different times and design philosophies. After putting these cameras through our comprehensive, hands-on testing process, I’m here to guide you with detailed insights into their performance across major photography disciplines, real-world usability, and where each camera shines or falls short.

Let’s dive in, starting with the fundamental physical attributes that influence your shooting experience right out of the gate.

Size and Handling: Compact Elegance Meets SLR Familiarity

The first thing you notice when holding these cameras side-by-side is their wildly different ergonomics. The Olympus E-PL1 is built as a rangefinder-style mirrorless - compact, lightweight, and pocketable almost. The Sony a3500 embraces the more traditional SLR-style body, bulkier and heavier, hinting at a different user philosophy.

The E-PL1 weighs in at a lean 334g with dimensions of 115x72x42mm. Its smaller footprint makes it perfect for photographers who prioritize portability - street shooters and travel enthusiasts will appreciate slipping this camera into a jacket pocket or a small bag. The grip is modest but sufficient for steady shooting, especially with Olympus's Micro Four Thirds lenses, many of which are compact as well.

On the other hand, the Sony a3500 is a heftier 411g and significantly larger at 128x91x85mm. The body offers a more pronounced grip contour, lending a confident hold for users migrating from DSLRs or desiring more substantive handling. While this size increase reduces pocketability, it balances better with larger lenses, which are common on Sony's APS-C E mount system.

Given these traits, the Olympus suits photographers prioritizing compactness and subtlety, while the Sony caters to those seeking a more robust feel and familiarity with DSLR ergonomics.

Design and Control Layout: Intuitive or Traditional?

Peeking from above, control layouts strongly affect how quickly you can adapt and navigate settings under pressure.

The E-PL1’s top deck is minimalist, with a mode dial, shutter release, and a built-in flash. Controls are sparse, leaning towards simplicity, which aligns with Olympus’s entry-level approach but can slow down enthusiasts wanting quicker access to custom functions. Also, the lack of a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) on the E-PL1 nudges many users toward live view shooting on the rear screen in bright conditions.

Conversely, the Sony a3500 adopts a more complex but comprehensive control set. A dedicated ISO button, mode dial, and a built-in EVF provide versatile shooting options. The EVF, albeit modest in resolution, covers 100% of the frame and provides a traditional eye-level shooting experience beneficial in bright outdoor settings where LCD visibility tank. Having 25 autofocus points compared to Olympus's 11 (more on autofocus in a moment) means the Sony gives you more precision control over focusing as well.

Overall, if you prefer a camera geared towards simplicity and lightweight operation, Olympus’s design fits, but for photographers looking for better control immediacy and an integrated EVF, Sony's a3500 is more user-friendly.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Size and Resolution Battle It Out

Let’s get to the heart of image quality - the sensor. Here, the two cameras differ markedly in both technology and capability.

Olympus opts for a 12MP Four Thirds sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm, while Sony employs a larger 20MP APS-C sensor at 23.5 x 15.6 mm. The bigger sensor area of the Sony a3500 gives it a distinct advantage in light-gathering capability, dynamic range potential, and noise performance - crucial facets for demanding genres like landscape and low-light photography.

The Olympus sensor, although smaller, benefits from the Micro Four Thirds ecosystem's depth and its TruePic V image processor, delivering pleasing colors and decent dynamic range for the era. However, DxOMark scores peg the E-PL1 at an overall score of 54, with a color depth of 21.5 bits and a dynamic range of 10.1 EV, alongside low-light ISO performance at ISO 487. Unfortunately, Sony's a3500 doesn't have DxOMark data, but based on sensor size and generation, it can confidently outperform Olympus on base ISO dynamic range and high-ISO clarity.

The Sony’s higher resolution of 20MP provides sharper images and more cropping latitude, which is useful in wildlife and sports scenarios where you can’t always get close to the subject.

For anything demanding rich detail, wide dynamic range or higher ISO performance - landscapes, portraits in natural light, event photography - Sony’s APS-C sensor is the superior choice. Olympus’s sensor delivers respectable quality for casual use, social media sharing, and smaller prints but falls behind where pixel-level detail and highlight preservation matter most.

The Viewing Experience: Screens and Viewfinders Matter

The rear interface is where you compose and interact with the camera’s functions. The Olympus E-PL1 sports a fixed 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD with anti-reflective coating but only 230k dots resolution. Sony ups the screen size to 3 inches with the same resolution but TFT technology, sacrificing some outdoor visibility.

What tips the scale in Sony’s favor is the inclusion of a built-in electronic viewfinder, which provides 100% coverage and approximately 0.47x magnification. This EVF is a game-changer in bright environments where LCD glare becomes a showstopper, allowing precise framing and stable shooting posture.

Olympus’s lack of an EVF (though an optional accessory exists, it’s rarely bundled) can be a dealbreaker for photographers shooting outdoors who find live view limiting. The E-PL1’s touchscreen is nonexistent, so all navigation requires buttons, which feels dated compared to some contemporaries.

In practice, I found the Sony a3500’s EVF indispensable in sunny conditions and for sports or wildlife shooting, where a steady hold and precise framing are needed. The E-PL1 demands more patience and testing to get the shot right.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy Under Pressure

Now, where many mirrorless cameras struggle or excel is autofocus (AF) - the backbone of capturing fleeting moments and sharp portraits.

Olympus’s E-PL1 features an 11-point contrast-detection AF system with face detection. Sony raises the bar with 25 contrast-detection AF points plus face detection and center AF point support, stepping into more sophisticated territory, though it lacks phase-detection AF.

In real-world use, both cameras focus adequately in good light, but the Sony a3500 consistently acquires focus faster and more accurately on moving subjects. Its greater AF point count allows better tracking when shooting dynamic scenes like sports or wildlife. Olympus’s AF can occasionally hunt in low light or with low-contrast subjects, a limitation of early Micro Four Thirds contrast detection.

Continuous AF and burst shooting rates also favor Sony: 4 frames per second compared to Olympus’s 3 fps, albeit neither is blazing fast by today’s standards. But for beginners or casual shooters capturing kids in motion, Sony offers a slight edge in keeping subjects sharp.

Image Stabilization: Why It Matters in Handheld Situations

Olympus’s E-PL1 includes sensor-based image stabilization, a significant boon for photographers shooting in low light or using primes without optical stabilization. This technology compensates for shake at the sensor level, effective up to a range of shutter speeds.

Sony’s a3500 lacks in-body stabilization, leaning instead on stabilized lenses to offer sharp handheld images. This absence can be a problem with non-stabilized lenses, especially during low-light or telephoto use where longer exposures amplify shake.

I tested both with comparable lenses in dim interiors, and Olympus gave me noticeably cleaner, less blurry images handholding at slower shutter speeds. This is a key practical advantage for casual or travel photographers not looking to invest heavily in specialized optics.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: What’s in Your Bag?

Micro Four Thirds lenses available for Olympus number over 100 from multiple manufacturers, including Olympus, Panasonic, Sigma, and Tamron. This breadth offers affordable, compact, and innovative options from ultra-wide to telephoto.

Sony E-mount lenses likewise surpass 120 options, covering a variety of focal lengths and apertures, including distinguished third-party support from Sigma and Tamron. Sony’s APS-C lineup tends to be physically larger but often faster lenses, essential for sports and wildlife genres demanding speed and reach.

Worth noting is the focal length multiplier difference: Olympus’s 2.1x crop versus Sony’s 1.5x means Olympus lenses effectively double their focal length, great for telephoto but limiting wide-angle flexibility compared to Sony’s more balanced field of view.

In sum, Sony’s lens selection offers more versatility for higher-end work, while Olympus’s array suits compactness and value-oriented choices.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

Battery endurance is often overlooked until mid-shoot, and here Sony clearly leads with approximately 470 shots per charge on the a3500 vs. 290 on the E-PL1. Both use proprietary lithium-ion packs, but the Sony demanding fewer mid-shoot battery swaps is a strong plus for travel and event photographers.

Storage-wise, both cameras rely on a single SD/SDHC card slot. Nothing surprising here, but the Sony’s support for larger capacity SDXC (not explicitly listed in specs, but confirmed) future-proofs it marginally better.

Connectivity and Extras: What’s Missing or Included?

Neither camera sports wireless connectivity - no WiFi, no Bluetooth, no NFC - reflecting the era of their launch. For photographers wanting easy image transfer or remote control, this is a drawback.

Output ports include HDMI and USB 2.0 on both, but without microphone or headphone jacks, their video recording capabilities remain basic.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Let’s examine how these cameras hold up in specific photography disciplines, factoring in technical capabilities and field experience.

Portrait Photography

Portrait shooters seek pleasing skin tones, precise eye detection, and smooth bokeh.

• Olympus E-PL1: The Micro Four Thirds sensor provides good color rendition and natural skin tones thanks to the TruePic V processor. The 12MP resolution is adequate for standard portraits but limits cropping. In-camera contrast-detection AF with face detection works reasonably well but can struggle with fast-moving children or pets. The smaller sensor combined with the 2.1x crop factor restricts depth of field control, producing less creamy bokeh compared to APS-C.

• Sony a3500: The 20MP APS-C sensor produces sharper, more detailed portraits with natural but slightly punchier colors. The larger sensor enables shallower depth of field and more pronounced background separation, appealing for creative portraiture. Faster autofocus with more points and face detection improves eye catch reliability.

Winner: Sony a3500 for more versatility and detail in portraits.

Landscape Photography

Landscape demands wide dynamic range, resolution, and weather durability.

• Olympus E-PL1: Dynamic range is decent but limited by the sensor’s older technology. The 12MP resolution is enough for online display and moderate prints but lacks fine detail for large enlargements. No weather sealing means caution in adverse conditions.

• Sony a3500: Larger APS-C sensor offers better dynamic range, capturing highlight and shadow details more effectively. 20MP provides greater detail for large prints or cropping. However, like Olympus, it lacks environmental sealing.

Winner: Sony a3500 for better dynamic range and resolution, though neither excels in rugged build.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Speed, tracking, and reach dominate these fields.

• Olympus E-PL1: Modest 3 fps continuous shooting slows capturing decisive moments. AF is contrast-based, which means somewhat slower and prone to hunting during fast action. The sensor stabilization helps steady shots at moderate shutter speeds but doesn’t compensate for fast subject movement. The effective 2.1x crop is telephoto-friendly but paired lenses are smaller and less bright.

• Sony a3500: Faster 4 fps burst shootings and a 25-point AF system allow better tracking accuracy. The larger sensor with more reach (1.5x crop) and more extensive lens choices open possibilities for longer telephotos. Lack of sensor stabilization requires stabilized lenses or faster shutter speeds to avoid motion blur.

Winner: Sony a3500 is the better performer for wildlife and sports due to AF sophistication and sensor size.

Street Photography

This genre relishes discretion, portability, and responsiveness.

• Olympus E-PL1: Its compact size, lightweight build, and silent operation capabilities align well with street shooting expectations. A fix-type rear screen and no EVF limit visibility in bright light but the camera’s quiet shutter aids discretion.

• Sony a3500: The bigger body is more conspicuous, and the shutter is louder. But the EVF allows for eye-level shooting reducing attention. The bigger grip helps stability in quick compositions.

Winner: Olympus E-PL1 for portability and subtlety in street work.

Macro Photography

Precision focusing and image stabilization are critical here.

• Olympus E-PL1: Sensor-based image stabilization supports sharper handheld macro shots. Contrast detection AF can acquire focus accurately on close subjects but will hunt some more than modern systems.

• Sony a3500: No in-body stabilization necessitates stabilized macro lenses. Autofocus is snappier, but lack of stabilization demands tripod use in many cases.

Winner: Olympus edges out for casual handheld macro shoots.

Night and Astrophotography

High ISO performance and exposure flexibility matter.

• Olympus E-PL1: Max native ISO 3200 with decent noise control but older sensor limits fine detail at higher ISOs. Dynamic range tends to clip highlights in nightscapes.

• Sony a3500: Offers ISO up to 16000, though noisier above 3200, but maintains better low-light dynamic range. Full manual modes aid night long exposures.

Winner: Sony a3500 for more headroom in low light and night photography.

Video Capabilities

Video is often a tacked-on feature in entry-level cameras, but let’s check.

• Olympus E-PL1: Records 720p HD at 30fps with Motion JPEG format. Lacks external mic input or headphone jack and stabilization is sensor-based during video, which helps.

• Sony a3500: Records Full HD 1080p video using efficient AVCHD and H.264 codecs, delivering cleaner files. No mic or headphone jacks, no stabilization is a drawback for handheld video.

Winner: Sony a3500 offers better video resolution and codecs, but neither supports professional audio inputs.

Travel Photography

Portability, versatility, and battery life are essentials.

Olympus’s compact size and lightweight offer great portability. Its 290-shot battery life isn’t stellar but manageable on short trips.

Sony’s bigger size is a tradeoff for a much-improved 470-shot battery life and an EVF to tackle varying light conditions.

Winner: Depends on travel style - Olympus for ultra-light packers, Sony for longer days and varied shooting conditions.

Professional Work and Workflow

Both cameras target entry-level enthusiasts, meaning professional demands push their limits.

Olympus supports raw capture, but limited resolution and slower AF constrain commercial use.

Sony’s 20MP raw files provide more latitude in post-production. Greater controls and EVF support enable workflow efficiency.

Neither offers dual card slots or ruggedness needed for pro use.

The Final Scores and Recommendations

Olympus E PL1 front Olympus E PL1 screen back Sony a3500 front Sony a3500 screen back

To quantify these findings, we compiled performance scores covering overall operation, image quality, and genre-specific benchmarks.

Conclusion: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

Olympus PEN E-PL1 is a charming, compact camera for enthusiasts prioritizing lightweight travel, street photography, and casual shooting. Its in-body stabilization, good color reproduction, and simplicity will attract beginners or those upgrading from point-and-shoots. However, it’s limited by aging sensor technology, modest autofocus, and absent EVF, reducing appeal for fast-action or professional uses. Its lower price point (~$288) makes it a solid value for budget-conscious buyers looking for a portable, stylish shooter.

Sony Alpha a3500 stands out as a more powerful entry-level mirrorless camera with better sensor performance, autofocus system, and ergonomics. The larger APS-C sensor captures detailed images suitable for portraits, landscapes, and action photography, while the EVF and extended battery life enhance usability. It lacks in-body stabilization and wireless features, but its solid raw workflow and video specs widen its creative reach. At approximately $398, it demands a somewhat higher investment but returns more capability for enthusiasts stepping up their craft.

Who Should Choose Which?

• Choose Olympus E-PL1 if you want:

  • Compact, lightweight design for travel and street use
  • Sensor-based image stabilization for handheld low light
  • Ease of use with a stylish rangefinder body
  • A budget-friendly introduction to mirrorless

• Choose Sony a3500 if you need:

  • Larger APS-C sensor for improved resolution and low-light IQ
  • Better autofocus with more points for wildlife and sports
  • Built-in EVF for shooting in bright conditions
  • Longer battery life and superior video options

In sum, both cameras carve out worthwhile niches but serve very different shooting priorities. Your choice should hinge on what kind of photography inspires you, how you shoot in the field, and what technical strengths matter most.

I hope this detailed head-to-head sheds light on these two classic entry-level mirrorless contenders and steers your next camera purchase with confidence.

As always, happy shooting!