LCD and Viewfinder
Olympus E-PL1 has a Fixed Type 2.7″ LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. At only 2.7″, the screen is on the smaller side and 230kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.
E-PL1 doesn't have a built-in viewfinder but an optional external viewfinder is available. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Mirrorless camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Olympus OM-D E-M10 (Compare) or Sony Alpha a6000 (Compare). If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.
Max Shutter speed
Olympus E-PL1 can shoot continuously at max speed of 3 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.
Flash
E-PL1 has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.
Focusing
Olympus E-PL1 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 11 points to choose from.
Olympus E-PL1 also features
Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.
Video Features
With Olympus E-PL1, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and Motion JPEG formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .
E-PL1 has a built-in Stereo microphone but no speaker.
Olympus E-PL1 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Mirrorless camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.
Connectivity and Storage
You can connect E-PL1 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.
Battery Olympus E-PL1 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 290 according to CIPA standards.
Considering that the average battery life of Mirrorless type cameras is 356 shots, Olympus E-PL1 has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend E-PL1 owners to buy some extra batteries.
Battery Life Comparison in Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras
Samsung NX mini with its 650shots is the model with longest battery life among Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras. Check the comparison of Olympus E-PL1 vs Samsung NX mini or take a look at Longest Battery Life Mirrorless cameras list.
Olympus E-PL1 Features Compared to Main Competitors