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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A6000

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Alpha a6000 front
Portability
85
Imaging
65
Features
78
Overall
70

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A6000 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
  • Introduced May 2010
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL1s
Sony A6000
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 344g - 120 x 67 x 45mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-6
  • Successor is Sony A6300
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A6000 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A6000, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and A6000 (24MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and A6000 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was brought out 4 years earlier than the A6000 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-PL1 grades against the A6000 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony A6000

 E-PL1 A6000 

Reasons to pick Sony A6000 over the Olympus E-PL1

 A6000 E-PL1 
LaunchedApril 2014May 2010Fresher by 47 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 A6000

 E-PL1 A6000 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A6000 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 provides physical dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Sony A6000 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 45mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 344 grams (0.76 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A6000 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 and the A6000.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A6000 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and A6000 is 86 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A6000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A6000 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through specs. The photograph here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and A6000.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A6000 will give you greater detail having its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A6000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A6000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A6000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography features
Sony A6000 Portrait photography features
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
79
focusing manually
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography information
Sony A6000 Street photography information
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
80
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (344g)
very good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Sony A6000
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
terrible battery (290 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
72
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Sony A6000
51
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery (290 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
77
lighter than competition in class (344 grams)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Sony A6000 Landscape photography info
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12MP)
terrible battery (290 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
78
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging highlights
Sony A6000 Vlogging highlights
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
33
includes face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (344 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing mic port
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A6000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A6000
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Alpha a6000
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Alpha a6000
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-05-17 2014-04-23
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V Bionz X
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 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 179
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction, hi-speed sync, wireless control
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 pounds) 344 gr (0.76 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 120 x 67 x 45mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 82
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 13.1
DXO Low light rating 487 1347
Other
Battery life 290 photos 360 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $288 $548