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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1 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
  • Announced November 2010
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL2
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Released April 2009
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and HX1 (1/2.4") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1s was introduced 20 months later than the HX1 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-PL1s scores versus the HX1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Sony HX1

 E-PL1s HX1 
ReleasedNovember 2010April 2009Fresher by 20 months

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 HX1 E-PL1s 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Sony HX1

 E-PL1s HX1 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1s has got 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) while the Sony HX1 has sizing of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1s vs the HX1.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and HX1 is 86 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The graphic here may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1s and HX1.

All in all, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1s using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-PL1s will produce more detail using its extra 3MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos much more aggressively. The more modern E-PL1s will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography details
Sony HX1 Portrait photography details
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
27
has manual focus
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (9 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Street photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
no RAW files
more heavy than others (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Sports photography with Sony HX1
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
36
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution not great (9MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography highlights
Sony HX1 Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
48
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than others (544 grams)
resolution not great (9MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography information
Sony HX1 Landscape photography information
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
39
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (9 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging information
Sony HX1 Vlogging information
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone socket
22
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1440 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
more heavy than others (544 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Sony HX1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-11-16 2009-04-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 9 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 9.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1440x1080
Video format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 544 grams (1.20 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $599 $47,999