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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
63
Overall
51

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V 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
  • Introduced May 2010
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL1s
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released April 2015
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and HX90V (18MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and HX90V (1/2.3") provide different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1 was revealed 5 years prior to the HX90V which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX90V being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-PL1 grades versus the HX90V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony HX90V

 E-PL1 HX90V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Olympus E-PL1

 HX90V E-PL1 
ReleasedApril 2015May 2010Newer by 59 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony HX90V

 E-PL1 HX90V 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 comes with exterior measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Sony HX90V has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 versus the HX90V.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and HX90V is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by going through a spec sheet. The image below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and HX90V.

As you can see, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Sony HX90V will show more detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography features
Sony HX90V Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
45
focusing manually
decent megapixels (18MP)
includes face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography highlights
Sony HX90V Street photography highlights
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography information
Sony HX90V Sports photography information
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery (360 CIPA)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography details
Sony HX90V Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (290 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
76
better than average battery (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
decent megapixels (18MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography details
Sony HX90V Landscape photography details
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
53
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
better than average battery (360 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging info
Sony HX90V Vlogging info
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
75
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (245g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony HX90V
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-05-17 2015-04-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Bionz X
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 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 245 grams (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 images 360 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $288 $440