Olympus
PEN E-P1
 vs
Olympus
PEN E-PL1

Updated (January, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-P1 vs Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-P1

43

  
Olympus PEN E-PL1

41

  

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P1

We are not aware of any reasons to consider buying the Olympus PEN E-P1 over the Olympus PEN E-PL1.
 

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL1

External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P1
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 536 ISO vs 487 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-P1 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.4 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Slightly smaller 121x70x36 mm vs 115x72x42 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 300 shots vs 290 shots
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 1.4" vs 1.7"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Olympus PEN E-P1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P1

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Startup delay Less startup delay 2200 ms vs 2500 ms
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 More than 10% less delay when turning on
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 21.4 bits
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 Distinguishes 0.1 more bits of color
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
Weight Slightly lighter 334 g vs 355 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-P1
43 vs 41
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
PEN E-P1:10.4 EV
PEN E-PL1:10.1 EV
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
PEN E-P1:300 shots
PEN E-PL1:290 shots
Startup delay Significant startup delay Help
PEN E-P1:2500 ms
PEN E-PL1:2200 ms
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
PEN E-P1:55.0
PEN E-PL1:54.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
PEN E-P1:536 ISO
PEN E-PL1:487 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-P1
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-P1
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 10-30mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-P1
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-P1
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$369 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-P1
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$339 - $514 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-P1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$854 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-P1
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-P1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Movie format Does not take movies
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3000 vs the PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Olympus PEN E-PL1.

appearance

Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-PL1

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Yepee9 (3:28 PM, February 24, 2012)
how much difference in price ?
 
Coroon1 (1:21 PM, February 17, 2012)
Don't think twice - buy E-P1.
AF - same
H.ISO - E-P1 better ! iso 3200 looks like iso 1600 in E-PL1
LCD - E-P1 has bigger - in E-PL1 is smaller and hum like put inside in body (more deep)
BUTTONS - E-P1 has scroll ! and its better to configure. EP-1 looks faster in menu and buttons reaction than E-Pl1.
E-P1 is more heavy BUT u feel like U have great camera - E-PL1 is lighter and feels like more plastic or less quality aluminium.

Two cameras are great and produce great pictures but E-P1 is elder and in my opinion better to buy. Not always  NEW means BETTER - remember.