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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX100V

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V front
Portability
66
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX100V 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
  • Announced May 2010
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL1s
Sony HX100V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 27-810mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 577g - 122 x 87 x 93mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Refreshed by Sony HX200V
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX100V Overview

Here is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-PL1 versus Sony HX100V, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and HX100V (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and HX100V (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was manufactured 17 months before the HX100V making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX100V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL1 grades versus the HX100V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony HX100V

 E-PL1 HX100V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX100V over the Olympus E-PL1

 HX100V E-PL1 
RevealedOctober 2011May 2010Fresher by 17 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony HX100V

 E-PL1 HX100V 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX100V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 features exterior measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Sony HX100V has proportions of 122mm x 87mm x 93mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 3.7") and a weight of 577 grams (1.27 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL1 versus Sony HX100V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1 and the HX100V.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX100V size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and HX100V is 86 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX100V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX100V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing purely by seeing technical specs. The photograph underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and HX100V.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony HX100V will produce greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The older E-PL1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX100V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX100V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX100V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX100V as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
39
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography highlights
Sony HX100V Street photography highlights
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
50
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
more heavy than competition (577g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Sony HX100V Sports photography advice
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery life (290 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
49
incredible zoom range (27-810mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography features
Sony HX100V Travel photography features
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery life (290 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
54
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (27mm)
very long zoom (810mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (577g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX100V as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery life (290 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
47
focusing manually
reasonably wide (27mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging details
Sony HX100V Vlogging details
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
25
reasonably wide (27mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than competition (577g)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX100V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony HX100V
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-05-17 2011-10-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 27-810mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.6
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 12.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lb) 577 grams (1.27 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 122 x 87 x 93mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 3.7")
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 -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $288 $429