Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX10V

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony HX10V, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and HX10V (18MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and HX10V (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL1 was launched 21 months before the HX10V which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX10V being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PL1 matches up against the HX10V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PL1 Gallery and Sony HX10V Gallery.

If you are planning to lug around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 has physical measurements 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 HX10V has dimensions of 105mm x 60mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 234 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony HX10V in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL1 and the HX10V.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and HX10V is 86 and 91 respectively.

Generally, its tough to see the gap in sensor measurements just by going through specifications. The photograph underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and HX10V.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Sony HX10V will produce greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The older E-PL1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.