Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VR-320

The following is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VR-320, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both created by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the VR-320 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and VR-320 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-PM1 was unveiled 5 months after the VR-320 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-PM1 grades vs the VR-320 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PM1 & Olympus VR-320. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery & Olympus VR-320 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 offers outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Olympus VR-320 has proportions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus VR-320 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PM1 vs the VR-320.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and VR-320 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Usually, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions purely by checking a spec sheet. The image underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and VR-320.

As you can see, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus VR-320 will give greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively.