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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-100

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Olympus Stylus SP-100 front
Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-100 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Announced January 2016
Olympus SP-100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 594g - 122 x 91 x 133mm
  • Announced January 2014
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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-100 Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Olympus PEN-F and Olympus SP-100, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and SP-100 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and SP-100 (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.

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The PEN-F was manufactured 2 years after the SP-100 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the PEN-F grades vs the SP-100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Olympus SP-100

 PEN-F SP-100 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016January 2014Newer by 25 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-100 over the Olympus PEN-F

 SP-100 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Olympus SP-100

 PEN-F SP-100 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus PEN-F has got physical measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus SP-100 has measurements of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") having a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs).

See the Olympus PEN-F and Olympus SP-100 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the PEN-F against the SP-100.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and SP-100 is 84 and 63 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions only by reviewing technical specs. The image underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the PEN-F and SP-100.

As you can tell, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The PEN-F because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus PEN-F will deliver extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The newer PEN-F should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-100 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus PEN-F
Portrait photography with Olympus SP-100
75
you can focus manually
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
44
has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus PEN-F
Street photography with Olympus SP-100
84
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
42
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than competition in class (594g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus PEN-F
Sports photography with Olympus SP-100
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
bad battery power (330 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
53
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography highlights
Olympus SP-100 Travel photography highlights
75
comes with touch focus
decent MP (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
bad battery power (330 shots)
53
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (594g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus PEN-F
Landscape photography with Olympus SP-100
76
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
bad battery power (330 per charge)
47
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging factors
Olympus SP-100 Vlogging factors
78
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no external microphone socket
29
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic support
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competition in class (594g)
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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Olympus SP-100
 Olympus PEN-FOlympus Stylus SP-100
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN-F Olympus Stylus SP-100
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-01-27 2014-01-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 81 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.9-6.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots 920k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427g (0.94 lbs) 594g (1.31 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 122 x 91 x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 330 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $1,000 $400