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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R front
Portability
79
Imaging
69
Features
58
Overall
64

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R 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
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL1s
Sony RX1R
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Renewed by Sony RX1R II
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and RX1R (24MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and RX1R (Full frame) come with different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1 was manufactured 4 years before the RX1R which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX1R being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL1 scores against the RX1R in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony RX1R

 E-PL1 RX1R 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1R over the Olympus E-PL1

 RX1R E-PL1 
RevealedJune 2013May 2010Newer by 37 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kClearer display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony RX1R

 E-PL1 RX1R 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 features exterior dimensions 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 RX1R has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") having a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1 versus the RX1R.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and RX1R is 86 and 79 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions just by researching specs. The image underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and RX1R.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony RX1R will result in extra detail due to its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
Sony RX1R Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
81
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/4,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography information
Sony RX1R Street photography information
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
66
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
great ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography details
Sony RX1R Sports photography details
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery life (290 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
53
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
can't change focal length (35mm)
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery pack (270 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX1R Travel photography highlights
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery life (290 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
62
decent megapixels (24MP)
built-in flash
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (270 CIPA)
heavier than competition (482g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1R as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low resolution (12MP)
low battery life (290 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
66
manual focus
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery pack (270 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Sony RX1R
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
does not have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack
34
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic support
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (482 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony RX1R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony RX1R
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-05-17 2013-06-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/4000 secs
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 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 lb) 482g (1.06 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 91
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 13.6
DXO Low light score 487 2537
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 270 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $288 $2,798