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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX10V

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V front
Portability
91
Imaging
42
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX10V 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
  • Launched May 2010
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL1s
Sony HX10V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-400mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 234g - 105 x 60 x 34mm
  • Launched February 2012
  • Newer Model is Sony HX20V
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX10V Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony HX10V

 E-PL1 HX10V 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Sony HX10V over the Olympus E-PL1

 HX10V E-PL1 
LaunchedFebruary 2012May 2010More recent by 21 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony HX10V

 E-PL1 HX10V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX10V Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX10V size comparison

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

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX10V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX10V Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX10V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX10V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX10V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX10V as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
38
good resolution (18MP)
includes face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography factors
Sony HX10V Street photography factors
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
62
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (234 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX10V as a Sports photography camera
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
49
incredible zoom range (24-400mm 16.7 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Sony HX10V
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (290 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competition (234g)
good resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (400mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Sony HX10V Landscape photography features
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
45
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Sony HX10V
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
34
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (234 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of microphone support
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX10V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony HX10V
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-05-17 2012-02-28
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
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 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
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 - 24-400mm (16.7x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 lbs) 234g (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 105 x 60 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 320 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $288 $616