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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20 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
  • Announced May 2010
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Introduced May 2009
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20 Overview

The following is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the H20 (10MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and H20 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was launched 13 months after the H20 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony H20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-PL1 grades vs the H20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony H20

 E-PL1 H20 
IntroducedMay 2010May 2009Newer by 13 months

Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Olympus E-PL1

 H20 E-PL1 
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony H20

 E-PL1 H20 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 features 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 H20 has dimensions of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the H20.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and H20 is 86 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specs. The pic here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and H20.

All in all, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL1 will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The more recent E-PL1 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
Sony H20 Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
27
has manual focus
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography advice
Sony H20 Street photography advice
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than competitors (250 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography information
Sony H20 Sports photography information
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (290 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography advice
Sony H20 Travel photography advice
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (290 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
51
flash built-in
great zoom (380mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (250 grams)
low megapixels (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography details
Sony H20 Landscape photography details
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery pack (290 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
36
has manual focus
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging advice
Sony H20 Vlogging advice
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (250g)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony H20
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-05-17 2009-05-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 38-380mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-4.4
Macro focus range - 2cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 grams (0.74 pounds) 250 grams (0.55 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $288 $249