Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Leica X1 vs Olympus PEN E-P3

Leica X1

42

Winner

Leica X1

"Straightforward control layout with analogue-style shutter speed and aperture dials"
dpreview.com | talking about the X1's button-layout
"Good quality build, but still relatively small and lightweight"
dpreview.com | talking about the X1's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Leica X1

Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
Olympus PEN E-P2

35

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P2

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P2

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Leica X1

Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Size Slightly smaller 124x60x32 mm vs 121x70x36 mm
Help
More than 20% smaller
Weight Slightly lighter 306 g vs 355 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.3" vs 1.4"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Leica X1 Learn more about
the Leica X1

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P2

Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 11 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $479.95 vs $2,241.76
Help
The best price we've seen is $1,762 cheaper (4.7x less)
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Olympus PEN E-P2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Leica X1 Leica X1
42 vs 35
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-P2
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Leica X1. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a boutique with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Large sensors Help
X1:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
PEN E-P2:Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
X1:CMOS
PEN E-P2:NMOS
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
X1:30s
PEN E-P2:60s
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Movie format One shoots movies Help
X1:None
PEN E-P2:720p @ 30fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$739 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,000 - $1,299 body only

$1,100 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,125 with 14-45mm lens

Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500

Aperture Has a much wider aperture
Wide angle Has a much wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor

Leica X1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Leica X2

Leica X2

Boutique

$2,620 - $2,621

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Movie format Shoots movies
Size Larger
Sensor size Smaller sensor
Leica D-LUX 5

Leica D-LUX 5

Pro digicam

$799

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Macro focus Much better macro capability
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,991 - $2,298 body only

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Shoots movies
Size Larger
Built-in flash No built-in flash

Olympus PEN E-P2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens

Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Size Slightly larger
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$185 body only

$375 with 17mm lens

Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Color depth Worse color depth
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
3D Takes 3D photos
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality

appearance

Leica X1 Olympus PEN E-P2
Leica X1 Olympus PEN E-P2
Leica X1 Olympus PEN E-P2

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