Olympus E-PL1 Review

Main Features

12MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 3200

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

2.7" Fixed Type Screen

3 fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video

334g. 115 x 72 x 42 mm

Replaced by Olympus E-PL1s

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Olympus E-PL1 Overview

First introduced in May 2010 , Olympus PEN E-PL1 is a 12.0MP Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor. Olympus later replaced E-PL1 with E-PL1s. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these cameras:
Compare Olympus PEN E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL1s

Olympus E-PL1 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Lens Mount and Lenses
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Olympus E-PL1 is a member of Olympus's PEN E-PL series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

Olympus PEN E-PL Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Olympus E-PL9 Compare	2018	16.0MP - Four Thirds	8.6 fps	117 x 68 x 39mm	380g
Olympus E-PL8 Compare	2016	16.0MP - Four Thirds	8.0 fps	115 x 67 x 38mm	357g
Olympus E-PL7 Compare	2014	16.0MP - Four Thirds	8.0 fps	115 x 67 x 38mm	357g
Olympus E-PL6 Compare	2014	16.0MP - Four Thirds	8.0 fps	111 x 64 x 38mm	325g
Olympus E-PL5 Compare	2012	16.0MP - Four Thirds	8.0 fps	111 x 64 x 38mm	325g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series:
Olympus E-PL9 vs E-PL8 vs E-PL7 vs E-PL6 vs E-PL5

Olympus E-PL1 has an Overall Score of 56/100 and ranked #160 out of 204 in Mirrorless cameras (Top 10 Mirrorless), and ranked #366 out of 1212 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Olympus E-PL1 Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Olympus E-PL1 Compared to other Mirrorless Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of our Olympus E-PL1 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Image Stabilization

Electronic (Optional) Optional Viewfinder

Face Detection Focusing

11 Focus Points

334g Light Body

Flash Sync Port

Report a correction

Buy Olympus E-PL1 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Articulating Screen

No Full HD Video

No Touch Screen

No Built-in Viewfinder

x magnification - Small Viewfinder

Low Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP

Max Sensitivity only ISO 3.200

Small LCD Screen ( 2.7")

Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )

Low Max Shutter Speed: 1/2000s

Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps

Low Battery Life: 290 shots

No Environmental Sealing

Poor Low Light Performance

Report a correction

Olympus E-PL1 Lens Mount and Lenses

Olympus E-PL1 has a Micro Four Thirds lens mount and currently there are 107 native lenses available for this mount. MFT is the most mature and versatile mount in the Mirrorles camera world. Olympus MFT lenses are known by their high optical quality and affordable prices. Other main contributor of the system, Panasonic also offers similarly well regarded lenses. Third party lens manufacturers also increase number of their offering and new manufacturers also jump in the wagon as the popularity of the system increases.

E-PL1 also has a Sensor based Image Stabilization system which means that all of these lenses will be stabilized when used on E-PL1. Sensor based image stabilization is one of the most useful features that you can have in an ILC. There are also 33 lenses with weather sealing for E-PL1 but bear in mind that E-PL1 body doesn't have weather sealings.

Here are some of the most popular Olympus E-PL1 Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Olympus E-PL1

Model	Focal Length on E-PL1	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS	24-120mm	FourThirds	210gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH. Power O.I.S	28-280mm	FourThirds	265gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Olympus 9mm F8 Fish-Eye Body Cap Lens	18mm	FourThirds	30gr	MF	Amazon B&H Photo
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f2.8 PRO	24-80mm	FourThirds	382gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH	50mm	FourThirds	125gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.8	50mm	FourThirds	136gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm F2.8 OIS	70-200mm	FourThirds	360gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Power OIS	24-70mm	FourThirds	305gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

Check our Olympus E-PL1 Lenses page or use our Smart Lens Finder tool for more detailed lens search.

Olympus E-PL1 Sensor and Photography Features

Olympus E-PL1 has a 12.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Truepic V processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4032 x 3024 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. E-PL1 has a native ISO range of 100 - 3200 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Olympus E-PL1 is not the highest resolution Four Thirds camera. Panasonic G95 with its 20.3MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G95 or take a look at Highest resolution Mirrorless cameras list.

Olympus E-PL1 DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Olympus E-PL1 sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 54 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Olympus E-PL1 here.

Let's look at how the size of the Olympus E-PL1's Four Thirds sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Olympus E-PL1 Physical Specs

Olympus E-PL1 weighs 334 g (0.74 lb / 11.78 oz) and has external dimensions of 115 x 72 x 42 mm (4.53 x 2.83 x 1.65″). Considering that the average weight of Mirrorless type cameras is 435g, Olympus E-PL1 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 42mm, it is also quite small, 7mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Olympus E-PL1

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Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Olympus E-PL1

Min

Average

Max

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Olympus E-PL1 with its main competitors:

Olympus E-PL1 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs E-PL1	Thickness	vs E-PL1
Olympus E-P1 Compare	355g	21g heavier	36mm	6mm thinner
Olympus E-PM1 Compare	265g	69g lighter	34mm	8mm thinner
Olympus E-PL2 Compare	362g	28g heavier	42mm	equal thickness
Olympus E-PL3 Compare	313g	21g lighter	37mm	5mm thinner
Panasonic GF3 Compare	264g	70g lighter	32mm	10mm thinner
Olympus E-PL1s Compare	334g	equal weight	42mm	equal thickness
Olympus E-PL5 Compare	325g	9g lighter	38mm	4mm thinner
Panasonic GF2 Compare	310g	24g lighter	33mm	9mm thinner

Weather Sealing

Olympus E-PL1 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Olympus E-PL1 LCD

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 Sony Alpha NEX-6 (Compare) or Sony Alpha A3000 (Compare).
If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

Olympus E-PL1 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

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 366 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

Olympus E-PL1

Min

Average

Max

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

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Olympus E-P1 Compare	1280 x 720	300shots	No	No	No
Olympus E-PM1 Compare	1920 x 1080	330shots	No	No	No
Olympus E-PL2 Compare	1280 x 720	280shots	No	No	No
Olympus E-PL3 Compare	1920 x 1080	300shots	No	No	No
Panasonic GF3 Compare	1920 x 1080	300shots	No	No	No
Olympus E-PL1s Compare	1280 x 720	290shots	No	No	No
Olympus E-PL5 Compare	1920 x 1080	360shots	No	No	No
Panasonic GF2 Compare	1920 x 1080	300shots	No	No	No

Olympus E-PL1 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.

Olympus E-PL1 Other Features

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.

What type of Photography is Olympus E-PL1 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Olympus E-PL1 in 5 different photography areas.

Olympus E-PL1 for Portrait Photography

Olympus E-PL1 has a score of 61 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization

Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-PL1 for Portrait Photography

Olympus E-PL1 for Street Photography

Olympus E-PL1 has a score of 82 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Image Stabilization

Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Medium sized Body

Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-PL1 for Street Photography

Olympus E-PL1 for Sports Photography

Olympus E-PL1 has a score of 58 for Sports Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Sports is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Sports Photography list.

11 Focus Points
Image Stabilization
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Average Ergonomics&Handling

Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 290 shots

Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-PL1 for Sports Photography

Olympus E-PL1 for Daily Photography

Olympus E-PL1 has a score of 68 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Medium size Body

334g
Body Thickness 42mm

Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-PL1 for Daily Photography

Olympus E-PL1 for Landscape Photography

Olympus E-PL1 has a score of 35 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theE-PL1.

Live-view
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor

Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-PL1 for Landscape Photography

Olympus E-PL1 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Olympus E-PL1 compares with other Mirrorless cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of E-PL1 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Olympus E-PL1 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Olympus E-PL1

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Olympus E-PL1 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Olympus E-P1

Compare

Olympus E-PM1

Compare

Olympus E-PL2

Compare

Olympus E-PL3

Compare

Panasonic GF3

Compare

Olympus E-PL1s

Compare

Olympus E-PL5

Compare

Panasonic GF2

Compare

Olympus E-PL1 Alternatives in DSLR Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Olympus E-PL1 with DSLR Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked DSLR cameras in Olympus E-PL1's price range.

Nikon D5300

Compare

Sony A33

Compare

Nikon D5100

Compare

Pentax K-S1

Compare

Nikon D3500

Compare

Nikon D3400

Compare

Canon T7

Compare

Sony A850

Compare

Frequently Asked Questions about Olympus E-PL1

Does the Olympus E-PL1 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Olympus E-PL1 have RAW support?
Does the Olympus E-PL1 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Olympus E-PL1 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Olympus E-PL1?
What is the Sensor Size of Olympus E-PL1?
is the Olympus E-PL1 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Olympus E-PL1 have Touch Screen?
Does the Olympus E-PL1 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Olympus E-PL1?

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Olympus
Model	Olympus PEN E-PL1
Announced	2010-05-17
Body Type	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Micro Four Thirds
Number of Lenses	107
Focal Length Multiplier	2×
Macro Focus Range	n/a
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Technology	HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Screen Size	2.7"
Screen Resolution	230k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	60s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/2000s
Continuous Shooting	3.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	10.00 m
Max Flash Sync	1/160s
Flash Modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	54
DxO Color Depth	21.5
DxO Dynamic Range	10.1
DxO Low Light ISO	487
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CMOS
Sensor Size	Four Thirds
Sensor Dimensions	17.3 x 13 mm
Sensor Area	224.90mm²
Sensor Resolution	12 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	4032 x 3024
Max Native ISO	3,200
Min Native ISO	100
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	11
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720
Video Formats	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	334g
Physical Dimensions	115 x 72 x 42mm
Battery Life	290 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	BLS-1
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC card
Storage Slots	1