Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs Samsung Galaxy NX: An Entry-Level Mirrorless Showdown with a Twist

When diving into the world of mirrorless cameras, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the flood of options. Two intriguing - and quite different - contenders that caught my attention after extensive hands-on testing are the Olympus PEN E-PM1 and the Samsung Galaxy NX. Both marketed as entry-level mirrorless cameras, they kick off from very different design philosophies, sensor architectures, and user approaches. They debuted just a couple of years apart - Olympus in late 2011 and Samsung in mid-2013. A bit of an odd couple, but perfect to pit head-to-head.

In this comparison, I’ll walk you through the nitty-gritty - from sensor tech to ergonomics, autofocus proficiency to video chops - and tackle their suitability across major photography genres and user profiles. Along the way, you’ll find vivid real-world impressions gleaned from my test shoots, and yes, I’ll be the friendly skeptic pointing out what works and what’s borderline fluff.

Let’s start with some quick visual context...

Holding It: Design DNA and Ergonomics

The Olympus E-PM1 proudly wears its compact, rangefinder-style design - a deliberate nod to portability and casual use. Weighing just 265 grams with a slender 110 x 64 x 34 mm footprint, it’s a breeze to slip into a jacket pocket or tiny bag. Grip comfort is decent for such a petite body; the textured front gives your fingers a cozy anchor during longer shoots.

The Samsung Galaxy NX, on the other hand, embraces an SLR-esque presence. Beefier at 495 grams and measuring 137 x 101 x 26 mm, it feels chunkier but also more balanced when using heavier lenses. The body screams “serious shooter” more than the Olympus does, but at the expense of that nifty grab-and-go convenience.

Both cameras lack weather sealing, so neither inspires confidence in the rain or dust. And neither addresses the ruggedness that adventure shooters often pray for - especially when comparing to modern rivals in similar price brackets.

For fans of traditional dials and buttons, Olympus goes minimal. It’s fairly barebones on top, relying heavily on menu diving for adjustments - which can get tedious fast. Samsung, conversely, tries to integrate more direct access with its DSLR-style layout.

This snapshot shows the contrast clearly: the Galaxy NX’s top panel sports dedicated exposure mode dial and more tactile buttons, whereas the E-PM1 keeps it lean with mostly digital controls. In practical terms, if you prefer quick, intuitive control over your camera settings during a shoot, Samsung’s design wins hands-down.

Sensor, Image Quality, and Tech Specs Duel

At the heart of any mirrorless camera lies its sensor - arguably the most crucial factor influencing image quality. Let’s pit these two against each other on that front.

First, the Olympus E-PM1 deploys a 12-megapixel Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm (about 225 mm² sensor area). It features the TruePic VI image processor and includes sensor-based image stabilization - a definite plus when you’re handheld and using slower shutter speeds.

The Samsung Galaxy NX pushes ahead with a larger 20-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor sized at 23.5 x 15.7 mm (roughly 369 mm²). This sensor not only delivers higher resolution but also boasts a native ISO range up to 25,600 (vs. 12,800 on the Olympus), plus Samsung’s DRIMe IV processor. Unfortunately, it forgoes built-in stabilization, relying on lens-based or digital fixes.

In hands-on shooting under varied conditions, the SamsungGX’s APS-C sensor shines with crisper details and superior highlight retention - a bigger canvas for light inevitably benefits landscapes and portraits alike. The Olympus sensor feels a tad dated in comparison, with slightly noisier images above ISO 1600 and less dynamic latitude, noticeable especially in challenging shadows or bright skies.

The anti-aliasing filters on both cameras smooth out moiré patterns but can blunt fine detail slightly - standard fare for cameras of this vintage.

Color depth on Olympus clocks at a respectable 21 bits, offering rich tone gradations. Samsung’s color painting is punchier, aided by its larger sensor and more advanced processing. The Olympus color science tends towards neutral, lending itself better to skin tones, while Samsung’s output sometimes skewed warm in my tests, which may please or displease depending on your taste.

Peeking Through the Viewfinder and Screen

A viewfinder - or the lack thereof - often determines the tactile shooting experience. The Olympus E-PM1 comes sans built-in viewfinder but supports an optional EVF add-on. Its rear LCD is a fairly small (3 inches) fixed HyperCrystal LCD with an anti-reflective coating at only 460k dots resolution. It’s usable in bright light but not exactly inspiring.

Compare that to Samsung’s Galaxy NX with its sizable 4.8-inch HD TFT touchscreen featuring 922k dots - the same real estate as many smartphones of the day. It’s a joy to compose with, zoom into detail, navigate menus, and interact via touch. Also, the Galaxy NX offers a built-in electronic viewfinder (albeit modest resolution without magnification data), giving you the choice to shoot eye-level.

Given Samsung’s touchscreen capabilities and the Galaxy NX's imposing screen size, it’s no surprise that composing and reviewing images feels more fluid here, especially for users accustomed to smartphones and tablets.

Olympus's choice to skip touchscreen and omit an integrated EVF firmly places it as a lightweight, casual shooter’s tool, while Samsung aimed for a visually immersive user experience.

Autofocus and Shooting Responsiveness

The Olympus E-PM1 employs contrast-detection autofocus with 35 focus points, face detection, and continuous AF capability. It can shoot bursts at 6 frames per second - a decent speed for its class.

Samsung’s Galaxy NX ups the ante with a more sophisticated AF system: hybrid autofocus combining phase and contrast detection (Phasedetection is absent on the Olympus). However, autofocus performance is a mixed bag. Despite promising specs, in practice, the Galaxy NX’s AF speed and tracking often feel inconsistent - especially compared to modern mirrorless models or DSLRs of that era.

Continuous shooting speed at 9 fps is theoretically impressive, but the Galaxy NX buffers quickly, limiting burst length before slowing down.

Autofocus in Olympus’s system feels more deliberate and predictable, albeit a bit slower. But it’s competent for portraits, casual wildlife, or street photography when paired with fast lenses.

Neither camera offers advanced AI features like animal eye detection, which newer models flaunt easily today.

Lens Ecosystem: Choices and Compatibility

Lens options are the often overlooked backbone of any camera system.

The Olympus PEN E-PM1 is part of the Micro Four Thirds ecosystem, boasting over 100 native lens options across Olympus, Panasonic, and third-party manufacturers like Sigma. This opens a treasure trove of focal lengths, apertures, and specialized optics at competitive prices. Additionally, the 2.1x crop factor means standard primes and zooms yield more telephoto reach - great for wildlife or sports newbies.

Samsung Galaxy NX relies on the proprietary Samsung NX mount with only around 32 available lenses. This significantly limits versatility and availability by today’s standards. The 1.5x crop factor moves field of view closer to an APS-C DSLR.

Having personally tested flagship MFT lenses alongside Samsung’s NX primes, I can confidently say Olympus's array delivers more variety with generally better optics and more affordable glass.

Build Quality, Battery Life, and Connectivity

Both cameras lack professional-grade weather sealing, though Olympus’s lighter body feels sturdier in hand, likely due to thicker plastic materials.

Battery life is an interesting point here: the Galaxy NX surprises with around 440 shots per charge vs. Olympus's 330 - a noticeable bump despite the bigger screen and wireless connectivity onboard Samsung’s model.

Connectivity is where the Galaxy NX leans into the future (early, arguably): it sports built-in Wi-Fi and GPS - something Olympus completely omits. This makes Samsung unique for geotagging and instant editing/data transfers - a precursor to today’s tethered workflows. Unfortunately, Bluetooth and NFC are absent in both models.

So, How Do They Perform Across Photography Genres?

Let’s map some real-world use cases charting strengths and weaknesses.

Portrait Photography

Skin tones are critical - Olympus’s MFT sensor crafts pleasant, neutral skin renderings without exaggerated warmth. Coupled with Olympus’s notable in-body image stabilization, handheld portraits with fast primes produce smooth bokeh and sharp eyes.

Samsung’s higher resolution brings punchier detail but skews warm in portrait lighting, sometimes requiring extra white balance corrections. The large touchscreen aids framing and focusing on faces, but autofocus jitter can distract.

Neither offers animal eye AF or advanced eye-tracking, but Olympus’s 35-point AF with face detect feels marginally more reliable here.

Landscape Photography

Samsung’s APS-C advantage delivers richer dynamic range and detail in wide shots - excellent for expansive vistas and complex lighting. The higher resolution files allow bigger prints or more cropping freedom.

Olympus’s smaller sensor means noisier shadows and slightly compressed tones, but efficient stabilization helps in handheld low light.

Both lack environmental sealing, so cautious weather planning is advised.

Wildlife Photography

Telephoto versatility tips toward Olympus, thanks to the extensive Micro Four Thirds lens lineup and 2.1x crop factor effectively extending reach.

Samsung’s bigger sensor loses here, especially coupled with less reliable autofocus tracking and shorter burst depth - vital for unpredictable animals.

So, while Samsung offers a technically bigger sensor, Olympus better suits wildlife beginners on a budget.

Sports Photography

Fast continuous shooting is ideal here: Samsung’s 9 fps feels attractive, but in practice, autofocus and buffer performance limit capture consistency.

Olympus’s 6 fps and more reliable AF tracking make it more dependable in capturing fast movements.

Low-light autofocus advantage swings marginally to Olympus due to contrast detect system’s robustness versus Samsung’s occasionally struggling hybrid AF.

Street Photography

Pocket portability and discretion favor Olympus by miles. The small size, light weight, and subtle controls allow unobtrusive shooting.

Samsung’s bulky build and large screen can feel like shouting “Hey, I’m here taking your photo!” Not ideal for stealthy street work.

Macro Photography

Neither camera is a macro specialist, but Olympus’s in-body stabilization helps with handheld close-ups using dedicated macro MFT lenses. Samsung’s lack of stabilization demands tripods or very steady hands.

Night and Astrophotography

Samsung’s higher max ISO (25,600 native) theoretically benefits night and astro shots, but noise at extreme sensitivities remains problematic. Olympus caps at 12,800, but noise is less aggressive at lower than max ISO settings.

Both cameras lack long exposure modes or built-in intervalometers for timelapses.

Video Capabilities

Olympus shoots up to 1080p 60fps in AVCHD and Motion JPEG - a solid offering for 2011 tech, though audio input is lacking.

Samsung matches 1080p but leverages MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs, plus includes mic and headphone jacks - a boon for those juggling serious video recording.

Neither camera supports 4K or higher frame rates.

Travel Photography

Here, Olympus’s featherlight form and excellent battery life make it ideal for travelers who want a capable yet compact shooter.

Samsung’s integrated Wi-Fi and GPS combined with larger screen offer appealing creativity on the go but add weight and bulk.

Wrapping Up the Scores and Verdicts

Let’s take a step back and summarize how these cameras stack overall:

Olympus E-PM1 scores well for portability, ease of use, and image stabilization, with moderate image quality reflective of its era.

Samsung Galaxy NX impresses with sensor resolution, connectivity, and video features but falters due to its bulk, autofocus quirks, and limited lens options.

For enthusiasts who want a no-fuss compact system with solid stills quality and versatile lenses, Olympus wins as the better value. For early adopters craving pioneering Wi-Fi capability and don’t mind a trade-off in size and AF consistency, Samsung provides a glimpse into future tech integration.

Genre-Specific Performance Breakdown

This chart crystallizes the discussion: Olympus excels in street and wildlife niches, Samsung holds ground in landscapes and video.

Sample Images to Judge For Yourself

Olympus E PM1 screen back Samsung Galaxy NX front Samsung Galaxy NX screen back

Examining these side-by-side reveals:

• Olympus images possess pleasant skin tones and respectable depth, albeit with slightly reduced resolution.
• Samsung photos show superior detail but sometimes washed highlight handling and harsher contrast.

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

• Buy the Olympus E-PM1 if:
  You want a lightweight, travel-friendly mirrorless camera with solid image stabilization and a huge lens ecosystem at a budget-friendly price (~$500). Ideal for hobbyists and beginners focused on portraits, street, or casual wildlife.

• Buy the Samsung Galaxy NX if:
  You crave higher resolution photos, integrated Wi-Fi/GPS, and better video input options, and don’t mind carrying extra weight or dealing with a somewhat frustrating AF system. Perfect if you’re an experimental user valuing connectivity and screen real estate for social sharing or hybrid photo/video use (~$1300 new price, may be used only nowadays).

Final Thoughts: The Mirrorless Time Capsule

Both cameras represent fascinating milestones - Olympus in the democratization of compact mirrorless, Samsung in the early marriage of smartphone-style connectivity and interchangeable lens creativity. Neither is perfect, but each holds lessons for enthusiasts appreciating how quickly camera tech evolves.

If you ask me, the Olympus PEN E-PM1 still brims with quiet confidence as a beginner-friendly system that just works well without fuss. The Samsung Galaxy NX is more an ambitious, occasionally clunky experiment that hints at future directions but lacks polish.

In closing, your choice depends largely on which trade-offs and features resonate with your shooting style and budget. And if you’re searching for a retro-modern companion or a unique gadget with some quirks - you won’t go far wrong exploring either.

Happy shooting!