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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1 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
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL1s
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Revealed April 2009
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and HX1 (1/2.4") use different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was manufactured 13 months later than the HX1 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-PL1 scores against the HX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony HX1

 E-PL1 HX1 
RevealedMay 2010April 2009Fresher by 13 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus E-PL1

 HX1 E-PL1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony HX1

 E-PL1 HX1 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera, you have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 provides external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Sony HX1 has specifications of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") along with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 versus the HX1.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and HX1 is 86 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The graphic here may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and HX1.

All in all, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL1 will produce extra detail due to its extra 3MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The younger E-PL1 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Sony HX1
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
27
has manual focus
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Street photography camera
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than others (544g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography details
Sony HX1 Sports photography details
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (290 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
36
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Sony HX1
52
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
48
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (544 grams)
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Sony HX1 Landscape photography features
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
39
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (9 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX1 as a Vlogging camera
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
22
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1440 x 1080 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
heavier than others (544 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony HX1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-05-17 2009-04-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 9 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 9.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1440x1080
Video format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 grams (0.74 lbs) 544 grams (1.20 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $288 $47,999