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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX10 IV

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV front
Portability
52
Imaging
53
Features
82
Overall
64

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX10 IV 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
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Sony RX10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1095g - 133 x 94 x 145mm
  • Introduced September 2017
  • Replaced the Sony RX10 III
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX10 IV Overview

Following is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus E-PL1 versus Sony RX10 IV, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and RX10 IV (20MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and RX10 IV (1") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was introduced 8 years prior to the RX10 IV which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX10 IV being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-PL1 matches up versus the RX10 IV with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony RX10 IV

 E-PL1 RX10 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 IV over the Olympus E-PL1

 RX10 IV E-PL1 
IntroducedSeptember 2017May 2010More modern by 89 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1440k230kSharper display (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony RX10 IV

 E-PL1 RX10 IV 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX10 IV Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 comes with outer measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Sony RX10 IV has specifications of 133mm x 94mm x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7") along with a weight of 1095 grams (2.41 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1 versus Sony RX10 IV in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the E-PL1 and the RX10 IV.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX10 IV size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and RX10 IV is 86 and 52 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX10 IV top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX10 IV Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by checking out specs. The picture here might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and RX10 IV.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony RX10 IV will show more detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX10 IV sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography advice
Sony RX10 IV Portrait photography advice
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
71
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Sony RX10 IV
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
64
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
features focus by touch
weather proof
more heavy than others (1,095g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Sony RX10 IV
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
76
excellent zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (24.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography features
Sony RX10 IV Travel photography features
51
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
56
weather proof
has bluetooth
features focus by touch
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (1,095 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Sony RX10 IV
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
62
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
weather proof
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging factors
Sony RX10 IV Vlogging factors
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone jack
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
more heavy than others (1,095g)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX10 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony RX10 IV
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-05-17 2017-09-12
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 315
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-600mm (25.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 24.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/2000s
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334g (0.74 lb) 1095g (2.41 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 133 x 94 x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7")
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 photographs 400 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $288 $1,698