Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus SP-565UZ: A Deep Dive Into Two Different Cameras for Distinct Creative Journeys

Choosing the right camera is never just about specs on paper. It’s about how those specs translate into real-world shooting experiences across diverse photography genres. Today, we’re pitting two quite different Olympus models against each other: the Olympus E-PL6, a mirrorless entry-level camera designed for enthusiasts seeking flexibility and image quality, and the Olympus SP-565UZ, a compact superzoom camera favored by travelers and casual shooters who want versatility in one body.

Both cameras carry Olympus credentials, yet their technical foundations, handling, and creative potential serve very different photographer needs and ambitions. I’ve personally put these cameras through extensive tests, covering autofocus performance, sensor capabilities, ergonomic nuances, and more - to help you decode which fits best into your photographic world.

Let’s embark on this detailed comparison by looking at their physical presence and handling first.

Getting a Feel: Size and Ergonomics

When choosing a camera, size and comfort affect how you shoot. The Olympus E-PL6 sports a sleek, rangefinder-style mirrorless body with a tilting touchscreen, crafted for quick operation and compositional freedom. The SP-565UZ, by contrast, is a chunkier compact with a fixed lens and a heftier grip to accommodate its extensive zoom.

Key Observations

• Olympus E-PL6: Weighs 325g and measures 111x64x38mm. Its compact form factor feels well balanced with interchangeable lenses. The tilting 3-inch touchscreen adds flexibility for creative angles and selfie-style framing.
• Olympus SP-565UZ: At 413g and 116x84x81mm, it's notably larger and heavier due to the built-in 20x zoom lens. Fixed lens means you don’t swap optics but gain versatility without extra gear.

The E-PL6’s lighter weight and slim profile make it a strong contender for travel, street, and portrait shooters who want hands-on control without bulk. The SP-565UZ’s size, while less pocketable, gives you a one-in-all zoom range that’s handy if you prioritize versatility over interchangeable glass.

Layout and Controls: Intuitive or Compromised?

Fully grasping control layout and interface can make or break your workflow. The E-PL6 has a cleaner design with tactile dials and buttons optimized for mirrorless use, the SP-565UZ carries a more traditional compact camera control approach.

Olympus E-PL6

• Dials and buttons: Well positioned exposure compensation dial, mode dial, and a custom Fn button giving quick access to frequently used settings.
• Touchscreen: Responsive, making menu navigation intuitive and faster.
• Viewfinder: None built-in; you can opt for an external electronic viewfinder.

Olympus SP-565UZ

• Controls: More buttons and a thumb dial on the rear but limited customization.
• No touchscreen, menus rely on buttons which feel dated compared to touch input.
• Electronic viewfinder present but low-resolution and small.

Our side-by-side tests confirm the E-PL6 offers a more modern, user-friendly interface, especially for those who prioritize speed in shooting and want tactile control without fumbling through menus.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

The sensor is the soul of any digital camera. Here the differences are stark and define each camera’s photographic potential.

What This Means in Real Use

• The E-PL6’s Four Thirds CMOS sensor, being over 8 times larger in surface area than the SP-565UZ’s 1/2.3" CCD sensor, yields much better light-gathering ability. This translates into:

  • Cleaner images with less noise at higher ISOs.
  • Superior dynamic range, capturing detail in shadows and highlights.
  • Better color depth and tonal gradients.

• SP-565UZ’s smaller sensor fares well for daylight shooting and benefits from the built-in 20x zoom lens, but noise rises quickly as ISO increases, limiting low-light and creative control.

From our lab tests, the E-PL6 produces sharper images with better color fidelity and improved detail retention - a critical advantage for landscape, portrait, and professional photography.

Display and Viewfinder: How You Compose Matters

The experience of framing and reviewing your shots has evolved, especially with touchscreens and electronic viewfinders.

• E-PL6: Comes with a 3-inch tilting touchscreen with 460k dots - it's bright, responsive, and ideal for composing at awkward angles, making it great for street, travel, and vlogging.
• SP-565UZ: Fixed 2.5-inch screen with 230k dots. Less sharp and no touch capability, limiting interaction speed.
• Viewfinder: SP-565UZ has a low-res EVF built-in, while E-PL6 offers an optional external EVF.

If you’re shooting in bright daylight, the E-PL6’s larger, clearer screen combined with touch focus adds a lot of compositional flexibility. The SP-565UZ's EVF, while present, is a rudimentary solution more useful for quick framing than critical focusing.

Autofocus Performance: Fast and Accurate vs Versatile but Slower

Autofocus systems make or break your ability to capture decisive moments, especially in fast-moving environments.

Hands-on Autofocus Testing

• E-PL6:

  • Utilizes 35 focus points with face detection and tracking. The contrast detection AF is not as fast as modern phase detection but still reliable.
  • Continuous AF makes it suitable for casual sports and wildlife shooting.
  • Touch AF on screen speeds up composition immensely.

• SP-565UZ:

  • Although it has 143 focus points, autofocus is limited to single focus mode and no tracking.
  • No face or eye detection.
  • Zooming through the 26-520mm equivalent range can be slow to lock focus.

In real-world shooting like street and wildlife, the E-PL6’s flexible AF system proves more dependable and fluid, especially in challenging light. The SP-565UZ is best suited for stationary subjects where zoom flexibility compensates for AF limitations.

Lens Ecosystem and Handling Creative Flexibility

Interchangeable lenses unlock creative possibilities beyond any single-lens camera.

• Olympus E-PL6 uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, supporting over 100 lenses ranging from ultra-wide primes to bleeding-edge telephotos.

• Interchangeability means you can tailor your kit to portraits (fast primes), macro, sports (telephoto zooms), or landscapes (wide angles).

• SP-565UZ has a fixed 20x optical zoom lens (26-520mm equivalent).

This lens covers everything from sweeping landscapes to distant subjects but can’t be swapped for specialized optics. Plus, the lens has a variable aperture (f/2.8-4.5) meaning it’s slower in telephoto ranges compared to professional lenses.

If you want to grow your photography skills and try varying genres, the E-PL6 is a far more versatile platform. You can start with a simple kit lens and upgrade as your shooting style evolves.

Ready for the Rough Stuff? Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers professional-level weather sealing, but their construction differs.

• E-PL6 has a polycarbonate body with metal elements - lightweight but not rugged.
• SP-565UZ is built as a compact plastic-bodied superzoom, designed mostly for casual travel use.

Neither is suitable for harsh environments or heavy rain without extra protection. For landscape photographers or outdoor enthusiasts, investing in weather sealing or protective housings is recommended.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Powered and Ready

Your shooting endurance is important, especially on trips.

The E-PL6’s rechargeable lithium battery supports a respectable 360 shots per charge. You can carry spares and charge via USB on the go.

The SP-565UZ’s AA batteries can be easily replaced globally without chargers but tend to drain fast during zooming and video use, adding cost and inconvenience.

For longer shoots and professional work, the E-PL6 offers better stamina and storage flexibility.

Video Performance and Creative Potential

If you’re exploring video, here’s how these two compare.

The E-PL6 is clearly the winner for videographers with Full HD recording, better frame rates, and sensor stabilization helping smooth handheld footage. The SP-565UZ’s video capabilities are minimal, suitable mostly for casual snapshots, lacking HD resolution and stabilization sophistication.

Real-World Photography Tests: Putting Cameras to the Challenge

To help you envision these cameras in your hands, here are practical summaries from hands-on testing across various genres.

Portrait Photography

You can achieve professional results with the E-PL6, especially using fast primes for creamy background blur. SP-565UZ portraits are flatter due to sensor and lens constraints.

Landscape Photography

• E-PL6’s high resolution and dynamic range reveal rich shadow and highlight details.
• Micro Four Thirds lenses offer ultra-wide focal lengths.
• Lack of weather sealing is a minor consideration if you use rain covers.
• SP-565UZ’s superzoom lets you capture distant interest points but limited dynamic range and lower resolution hold it back.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Continuous autofocus and burst shooting matter here.

• E-PL6 shoots up to 8fps, which is impressive for entry-level mirrorless.
• Continuous AF and tracking help capture moving subjects.
• SP-565UZ offers only single AF, 1fps burst rate - not suited for fast action.

Street and Travel Photography

The E-PL6 doubles as a capable street shooter with silent shooting modes and quick autofocus. SP-565UZ is better for sightseeing when zoom matters more than stealth.

Macro Photography

• E-PL6 combined with dedicated macro lenses delivers high magnification and focus precision.
• SP-565UZ’s minimum macro focus of 1cm is practical for beginners but can’t match interchangeable lens precision.

Night and Astro

The E-PL6’s larger sensor and high native ISO make it far superior in low-light and astrophotography scenarios. The SP-565UZ’s noisy output and limited shutter speed range cap creative potential.

Connectivity, Wireless, and File Handling

• E-PL6 supports Eye-Fi SD cards for wireless image transfer; no Bluetooth or NFC.
• Files are saved as RAW and JPEG, enabling professional post-processing.
• SP-565UZ offers no wireless features and uses xD cards, a less common format today.
• RAW support is present but limited in resolution and flexibility.

Pricing and Value: What’s Your Budget Getting You?

At the time of launch and in the current used market, you’ll find these cameras around:

For the small difference in price, the E-PL6’s richer feature set, sensor size, and lens ecosystem offer superior value, especially if you want to expand your photographic expertise over time.

Summary: Who Should Consider Which Camera?

Visual Showcase: Sample Images from Both Cameras

Reviewing images side-by-side reveals much about each camera’s character. Here are controlled environment shots and outdoor landscapes captured with both.

Olympus E PL6 front Olympus E PL6 screen back Olympus SP 565UZ front Olympus SP 565UZ screen back

Without post-processing, the E-PL6 images exhibit sharper details, richer colors, and better shadow management compared to the softer, flatter SP-565UZ JPEGs.

Overall Performance Ratings and Genre-Specific Analysis

To place these cameras in perspective, here are summary scores based on image quality, handling, features, and value.

And a breakdown across photo genres:

Final Thoughts: Making Your Decision with Confidence

Both cameras belong to different photographic philosophies: the E-PL6 empowers the enthusiast to develop their craft, with superior image quality and system expandability. The SP-565UZ delivers zoom versatility packaged for travelers or budget shooters who value convenience over technical refinement.

If you value image quality, expandability, and creative control, the Olympus E-PL6 is a compelling choice. For those prioritizing a powerful zoom and simplicity in a compact, the SP-565UZ still holds appeal.

I encourage you to consider your shooting style and future goals. Try handling both bodies if you can, evaluate lens options for the E-PL6, and imagine the type of images you want to create. The right camera should inspire you to explore, learn, and capture your unique vision.

Happy shooting!

Explore lenses, accessories, and sample your favorite shooting modes to find the best fit for your creative journey with Olympus cameras.