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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony RX1

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
69
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony RX1 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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL3
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Introduced February 2013
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony RX1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and RX1 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL2 was manufactured 24 months before the RX1 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-PL2 matches up vs the RX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony RX1

 E-PL2 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus E-PL2

 RX1 E-PL2 
IntroducedFebruary 2013February 2011Newer by 24 months
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony RX1

 E-PL2 RX1 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera often, you should take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 offers outside measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Sony RX1 has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") having a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony RX1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL2 and the RX1.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and RX1 is 85 and 79 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions simply by seeing specifications. The pic underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and RX1.

Plainly, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sony RX1 will provide extra detail due to its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PL2 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography information
Sony RX1 Portrait photography information
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
81
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/4,000s)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography advice
Sony RX1 Street photography advice
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
66
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography information
Sony RX1 Sports photography information
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow fps (3.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (280 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
53
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (270 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (280 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
62
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (270 per charge)
heavier than others (482g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
low battery pack (280 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
64
focusing manually
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (270 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging info
Sony RX1 Vlogging info
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
34
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others (482 grams)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony RX1
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-11 2013-02-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Highest aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/4000 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 gr (0.80 lb) 482 gr (1.06 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 93
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 25.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 14.3
DXO Low light score 573 2534
Other
Battery life 280 photographs 270 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $0 $2,798