Reasons to choose E-30
Released in 2008, E-30 has about 225 mm² of sensor area, 12.3 MP effective resolution, and a 695 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Olympus E-30
vs Olympus PEN E-PL1
VS
Sensor area
225 mm²
E-30225 mm²
PEN E-PL1- Area ratio
- 1:1
- Absolute difference
- 0 mm²
- Relative difference
- 0%
The E-30 and PEN E-PL1 have the same sensor area. Compare pixel density, sensor architecture, and release generation to understand likely image-quality differences.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
E-30MetricPEN E-PL1
12.3 MPEffective pixels12.3 MP
17.3 × 13Sensor17.3 × 13
4.28 µmPixel pitch4.28 µm
18.28 µm²Pixel area18.28 µm²
5.47 MP/cm²Pixel density5.47 MP/cm²
2Crop factor2
—Maximum video—
695 gWeight334 g
Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture CardStorageSD/SDHC card
BLM-1 Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion BLS-1 rechargeable battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The E-30 and PEN E-PL1 have the same sensor area. The PEN E-PL1 has the lighter body. The E-30 and PEN E-PL1 have the same effective resolution. The PEN E-PL1 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose PEN E-PL1
Released in 2010, PEN E-PL1 has about 225 mm² of sensor area, 12.3 MP effective resolution, and a 334 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.