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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony QX1

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Alpha QX1 front
Portability
90
Imaging
63
Features
48
Overall
57

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony QX1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
Sony QX1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 216g - 74 x 70 x 53mm
  • Revealed September 2014
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony QX1 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Sony QX1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Lens-style by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and QX1 (20MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and QX1 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL2 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the QX1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PL2 scores against the QX1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony QX1

 E-PL2 QX1 
Display dimensions3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution460k0kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX1 over the Olympus E-PL2

 QX1 E-PL2 
RevealedSeptember 2014February 2011Fresher by 43 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony QX1

 E-PL2 QX1 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony QX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL2 has got exterior dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Sony QX1 has measurements of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") having a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL2 versus Sony QX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL2 vs the QX1.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony QX1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and QX1 is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony QX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony QX1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to see the gap in sensor sizing only by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph here might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and QX1.

As you can see, the 2 cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony QX1 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony QX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony QX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony QX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
Portrait photography with Sony QX1
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
66
focusing manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
no manual control
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography details
Sony QX1 Street photography details
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
69
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
has touch focus
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition (216g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography features
Sony QX1 Sports photography features
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery life (280 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
56
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery (440 CIPA)
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography factors
Sony QX1 Travel photography factors
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (280 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
71
good battery (440 shots)
has touch focus
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (216 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography information
Sony QX1 Landscape photography information
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery life (280 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
64
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good battery (440 shots)
screen is somewhat small ( inches)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging info
Sony QX1 Vlogging info
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
32
touch screen
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (216g)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony QX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony QX1
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Alpha QX1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Alpha QX1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Lens-style
Launched 2011-02-11 2014-09-03
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.6
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" -
Resolution of display 460k dots 0k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Off, auto, fill, slow sync, rear sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362g (0.80 pounds) 216g (0.48 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 74 x 70 x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 images 440 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots One One
Retail cost $0 $500