Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-1

Following is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the XZ-1 (10MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and XZ-1 (1/1.63") posses different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PM1 was introduced 11 months after the XZ-1 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PM1 grades vs the XZ-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PM1 & Olympus XZ-1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery & Olympus XZ-1 Gallery.

If you're going to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 provides 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 XZ-1 has sizing of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PM1 versus the XZ-1.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and XZ-1 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Normally, it is hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes just by checking out specifications. The picture here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and XZ-1.

Plainly, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-PM1 will show more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-PM1 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.