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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony a5000

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Alpha a5000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
63
Features
62
Overall
62

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony a5000 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
  • Launched May 2010
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL1s
Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Introduced January 2014
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-3N
  • Newer Model is Sony a5100
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony a5000 Overview

The following is a extended comparison of the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony a5000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and a5000 (20MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and a5000 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL1 was launched 4 years prior to the a5000 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-PL1 grades against the a5000 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony a5000

 E-PL1 a5000 

Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Olympus E-PL1

 a5000 E-PL1 
IntroducedJanuary 2014May 2010Newer by 44 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony a5000

 E-PL1 a5000 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony a5000 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 offers outside measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Sony a5000 has dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony a5000 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 change based on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL1 vs the a5000.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony a5000 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and a5000 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony a5000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony a5000 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions just by researching specs. The picture below will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and a5000.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony a5000 will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony a5000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony a5000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony a5000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography features
Sony a5000 Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
71
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography info
Sony a5000 Street photography info
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
78
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography features
Sony a5000 Sports photography features
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
60
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
great battery (420 shots)
slow fps (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography advice
Sony a5000 Travel photography advice
52
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
78
great battery (420 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a5000 as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
77
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
great battery (420 shots)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging advice
Sony a5000 Vlogging advice
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
32
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony a5000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony a5000
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Alpha a5000
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Alpha a5000
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2010-05-17 2014-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 3200 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.6
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 pounds) 269 gr (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 13.0
DXO Low light rating 487 1089
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 420 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $288 $448