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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Olympus PEN-F front
Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed November 2011
  • New Model is Olympus E-PM2
Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Launched January 2016
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both manufactured by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and PEN-F (20MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PM1 was manufactured 5 years prior to the PEN-F and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-PM1 scores against the PEN-F in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus PEN-F

 E-PM1 PEN-F 

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Olympus E-PM1

 PEN-F E-PM1 
LaunchedJanuary 2016November 2011More recent by 50 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus PEN-F

 E-PM1 PEN-F 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 comes with physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Olympus PEN-F has dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PM1 vs the PEN-F.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and PEN-F is 89 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements only by researching technical specs. The visual below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and PEN-F.

As you can tell, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus PEN-F to render more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images more aggressively. The older E-PM1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
75
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography factors
Olympus PEN-F Street photography factors
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
84
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
Sports photography with Olympus PEN-F
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
no phase detect autofocus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
bad battery (330 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography factors
Olympus PEN-F Travel photography factors
45
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
75
includes focus by touch
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
bad battery (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus PEN-F as a Landscape photography camera
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
76
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
bad battery (330 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging highlights
Olympus PEN-F Vlogging highlights
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus PEN-F Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus PEN-F
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Olympus PEN-F
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Olympus PEN-F
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-11-23 2016-01-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 81
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.62x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 265 grams (0.58 lb) 427 grams (0.94 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 74
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 12.4
DXO Low light rating 499 894
Other
Battery life 330 images 330 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $499 $1,000