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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
18
Overall
27

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2012
Sony WX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Launched August 2009
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and WX1 (10MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and WX1 (1/2.4") come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL5 was revealed 3 years after the WX1 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-PL5 scores versus the WX1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Sony WX1

 E-PL5 WX1 
LaunchedSeptember 2012August 2009Newer by 38 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony WX1 over the Olympus E-PL5

 WX1 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony WX1

 E-PL5 WX1 

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL5 features outer measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Sony WX1 has measurements of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") having a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL5 compared to the WX1.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and WX1 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to envision the gap in sensor dimensions simply by going through specs. The picture here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and WX1.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 with its larger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will produce greater detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger E-PL5 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX1 Portrait photography highlights
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Sony WX1
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
55
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than average in class (149 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography info
Sony WX1 Sports photography info
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
26
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography highlights
Sony WX1 Travel photography highlights
75
has focus via touch
good resolution (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
56
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (149g)
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony WX1 Landscape photography highlights
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have Timelapse mode
31
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Sony WX1
78
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
28
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (149 grams)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Sony WX1
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2012-09-17 2009-08-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 160
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.4-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 lb) 149g (0.33 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 91 x 52 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $400 $149