Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus XZ-1

The following is a extended review of the Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus XZ-1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Olympus. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL6 (16MP) and XZ-1 (10MP) and the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and XZ-1 (1/1.63") have totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL6 was unveiled 3 years after the XZ-1 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-PL6 scores vs the XZ-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL6 and Olympus XZ-1. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL6 Gallery and Olympus XZ-1 Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL6 comes with exterior measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Olympus XZ-1 has specifications of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus XZ-1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL6 versus the XZ-1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL6 and XZ-1 is 88 and 88 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading specifications. The pic below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL6 and XZ-1.

Plainly, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL6 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL6 will offer more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The fresher E-PL6 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.