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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX400V 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
  • Launched May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Old Model is Sony HX300
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX400V Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL1 versus Sony HX400V, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and HX400V (20MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and HX400V (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was launched 4 years prior to the HX400V which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-PL1 grades vs the HX400V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony HX400V

 E-PL1 HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Olympus E-PL1

 HX400V E-PL1 
RevealedFebruary 2014May 2010More modern by 45 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 HX400V

 E-PL1 HX400V 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 features exterior dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Sony HX400V has proportions of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") having a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Sony HX400V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the HX400V.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and HX400V is 86 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizes just by checking technical specs. The picture underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and HX400V.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony HX400V will resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Sony HX400V
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
51
focusing manually
decent MP (20MP)
supports face detection autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than competition (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography info
Sony HX400V Sports photography info
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (290 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
55
incredible zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography factors
Sony HX400V Travel photography factors
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
53
decent MP (20MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (660g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Sony HX400V Landscape photography info
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (290 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
49
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging factors
Sony HX400V Vlogging factors
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
does not posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
29
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic jack
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competition (660 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony HX400V
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-05-17 2014-02-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 gr (0.74 pounds) 660 gr (1.46 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
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 photographs 300 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $288 $448