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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony HX1

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony HX1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL9
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-PL8 vs Sony HX1 Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL8 versus Sony HX1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and HX1 (9MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and HX1 (1/2.4") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was manufactured 7 years after the HX1 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL8 scores vs the HX1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Sony HX1

 E-PL8 HX1 
RevealedSeptember 2016April 2009More modern by 91 months
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus E-PL8

 HX1 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Sony HX1

 E-PL8 HX1 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL8 enjoys outer measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Sony HX1 has proportions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") having a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL8 versus Sony HX1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL8 versus the HX1.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and HX1 is 86 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to see the gap in sensor sizes simply by checking out technical specs. The image here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and HX1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL8 will provide more detail due to its extra 7 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images far more aggressively. The newer E-PL8 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography details
Sony HX1 Portrait photography details
72
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
27
manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (9MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Street photography camera
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers touch focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
50
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
no RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (544g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Sports photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
lack of phase detect autofocus
36
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution low (9MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Sony HX1
71
offers touch focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
48
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (544g)
sensor resolution low (9MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Landscape photography camera
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
39
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (9MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
no RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging details
Sony HX1 Vlogging details
35
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone socket
22
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1440 x 1080 resolution)
no microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (544 grams)
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Sony HX1
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-09-19 2009-04-22
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII 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 16MP 9MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 9.20 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1440x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 gr (0.79 lbs) 544 gr (1.20 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $500 $47,999