Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony ZV-E1
86 Imaging
46 Features
43 Overall
44
80 Imaging
66 Features
89 Overall
75
Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony ZV-E1 Key Specs
(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
- Announced May 2010
- New Model is Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 80 - 102400 (Expand to 409600)
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 3840 x 1920 video
- Sony E Mount
- 483g - 121 x 72 x 54mm
- Revealed March 2023
Photography Glossary Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony ZV-E1 Overview
In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony ZV-E1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the ZV-E1 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and ZV-E1 (Full frame) possess different sensor sizing.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe E-PL1 was revealed 14 years earlier than the ZV-E1 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-PL1 scores against the ZV-E1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony ZV-E1 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL1 and Sony ZV-E1. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL1 Gallery and Sony ZV-E1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony ZV-E1
| E-PL1 | ZV-E1 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Sony ZV-E1 over the Olympus E-PL1
| ZV-E1 | E-PL1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | March 2023 | May 2010 | More recent by 156 months | |
| Screen type | Fully Articulated | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen | |
| Screen sizing | 3.00" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") | |
| Screen resolution | 1037k | 230k | Clearer screen (+807k dot) | |
| Selfie screen | Easy selfies | |||
| Touch friendly screen | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony ZV-E1
| E-PL1 | ZV-E1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually | Very exact focus |
Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony ZV-E1 Physical Comparison
If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys outer dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Sony ZV-E1 has specifications of 121mm x 72mm x 54mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 2.1") having a weight of 483 grams (1.06 lbs).
Examine the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony ZV-E1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1 and the ZV-E1.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and ZV-E1 is 86 and 80 respectively.
Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony ZV-E1 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it is very hard to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements merely by looking at a spec sheet. The visual below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and ZV-E1.
As you can see, both cameras offer the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor measurements. The E-PL1 includes the tinier sensor which should make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging. The older E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.
Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony ZV-E1 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony ZV-E1 Specifications
| Olympus PEN E-PL1 | Sony ZV-E1 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand Name | Olympus | Sony |
| Model type | Olympus PEN E-PL1 | Sony ZV-E1 |
| Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Pro Mirrorless |
| Announced | 2010-05-17 | 2023-03-29 |
| Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Powered by | Truepic V | - |
| Sensor type | CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | Full frame |
| Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 35.6 x 23.8mm |
| Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 847.3mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 12 megapixel |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Max resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 4240 x 2832 |
| Max native ISO | 3200 | 102400 |
| Max enhanced ISO | - | 409600 |
| Lowest native ISO | 100 | 80 |
| RAW format | ||
| Lowest enhanced ISO | - | 40 |
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| AF touch | ||
| AF continuous | ||
| AF single | ||
| AF tracking | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| Center weighted AF | ||
| Multi area AF | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detect focusing | ||
| Contract detect focusing | ||
| Phase detect focusing | ||
| Total focus points | 11 | 759 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Number of lenses | 107 | 195 |
| Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of display | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
| Display size | 2.7 inches | 3.00 inches |
| Display resolution | 230 thousand dot | 1,037 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch screen | ||
| Display technology | HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating | - |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | Electronic (optional) | None |
| Features | ||
| Minimum shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
| Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000s | - |
| Fastest quiet shutter speed | - | 1/8000s |
| Continuous shutter speed | 3.0 frames per second | 10.0 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Expose Manually | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Change WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Built-in flash | ||
| Flash distance | 10.00 m | no built-in flash |
| Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | no built-in flash |
| Hot shoe | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Fastest flash sync | 1/160s | - |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 3840 x 2160 @ 120p / 280 3840 x 2160 @ 100p / 280 Mbps, XA3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 140 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 140 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM |
| Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 3840x1920 |
| Video data format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264 |
| Mic jack | ||
| Headphone jack | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | Built-In |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 GBit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environmental seal | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 334g (0.74 lbs) | 483g (1.06 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") | 121 x 72 x 54mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 2.1") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall 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 | 570 images |
| Battery form | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | BLS-1 | NP-FZ100 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes |
| Time lapse shooting | With downloadable app | |
| Type of storage | SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo |
| Storage slots | One | One |
| Retail cost | $288 | $2,198 |