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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100 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
  • Introduced May 2010
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL1s
Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2010
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the S2100 (12MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and S2100 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1 was unveiled 5 months after the S2100 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-PL1 grades versus the S2100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony S2100

 E-PL1 S2100 
Focus manually Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Olympus E-PL1

 S2100 E-PL1 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony S2100

 E-PL1 S2100 
AnnouncedMay 2010January 2010Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 features outside dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Sony S2100 has specifications of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1 vs the S2100.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and S2100 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to envision the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing technical specs. The picture below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and S2100.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 provides the bigger sensor which will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Sony S2100
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
20
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography advice
Sony S2100 Street photography advice
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
46
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Sony S2100
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
17
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200s)
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography factors
Sony S2100 Travel photography factors
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
50
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography information
Sony S2100 Landscape photography information
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
27
screen is a good size (3 inches)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S2100 as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony S2100
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-05-17 2010-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-105mm (3.2x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 1 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 334 gr (0.74 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $288 $0