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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A380

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A380 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed November 2010
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL2
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A350
  • Newer Model is Sony A390
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A380 Overview

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL1s and Sony A380, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the A380 (14MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and A380 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1s was unveiled 15 months after the A380 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-PL1s scores vs the A380 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Sony A380

 E-PL1s A380 
IntroducedNovember 2010August 2009More modern by 15 months

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 A380 E-PL1s 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Sony A380

 E-PL1s A380 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1s offers outside measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Sony A380 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1s and Sony A380 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1s vs the A380.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A380 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and A380 is 86 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by reviewing technical specs. The picture here might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1s and A380.

As you have seen, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1s having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A380 will deliver extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger E-PL1s provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Portrait photography with Sony A380
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography factors
Sony A380 Street photography factors
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
77
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography features
Sony A380 Sports photography features
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography information
Sony A380 Travel photography information
52
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (290 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
54
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (500 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography info
Sony A380 Landscape photography info
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery (290 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
terrible battery life (500 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Vlogging camera
Sony A380 as a Vlogging camera
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
9
no video
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Sony A380
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sSony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-11-16 2009-08-24
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334g (0.74 pounds) 519g (1.14 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 614
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 500 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $599 $899