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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
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
  • Revealed April 2009
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1 Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and HX1 (1/2.4") possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was introduced 22 months later than the HX1 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-PL2 grades versus the HX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony HX1

 E-PL2 HX1 
RevealedFebruary 2011April 2009Fresher by 22 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus E-PL2

 HX1 E-PL2 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX1

 E-PL2 HX1 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 comes with external measurements 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 HX1 has specifications of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") along with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1 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 dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL2 vs the HX1.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and HX1 is 85 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through a spec sheet. The visual underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and HX1.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 with its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL2 will provide more detail using its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The younger E-PL2 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
27
has manual focus
no external flash support
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Street photography camera
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competitors in class (544 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (280 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
36
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
low megapixels (9MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL2
Travel photography with Sony HX1
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (280 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
48
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
great reach (560mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (544 grams)
low megapixels (9MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Landscape photography camera
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery (280 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
39
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (9MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Sony HX1
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
22
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1440 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (544g)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX1
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-02-11 2009-04-22
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
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 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 9.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1440x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
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 362g (0.80 lbs) 544g (1.20 lbs)
Dimensions 114 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 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 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $0 $47,999