The Olympus PEN E-PL1 is an older mirrorless camera rather than a new pocket camera. However, as its price has dropped into the $200-$300 range, we were curious to see how it would compare to modern cameras selling for the same price. We found that the E-PL1's larger Micro Four Thirds sensor, while older, can capture greater depth of field and detail than the smaller sensors of pocket cameras. However, the trade-off is that the E-PL1 is a bulkier camera than any of its competitors and its controls are less intuitive than some other cameras.

The Good

Large sensor. The E-PL1 has a 12.3 megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor, which is much larger than the sensors found in the shootout's other cameras. A larger sensor means you'll see less noise at a given ISO setting, better low-light performance, better control over depth of field, and sharper, clearer images from the E-PL1. Our test photos show the kind of detail that you can expect from this camera.

The greater detail present in the E-PL1's photos are a direct result of that camera's larger sensor. You'll note that this is true despite the megapixel discrepancy between the two cameras; the E-PL1 is a 12MP camera while the S8200 is a 16MP camera. This is because megapixels are not a relevant measure of picture quality in digital cameras -- something that camera manufacturers would sooner not explain.

Extensive adjustments. Another major advantage over point-and-shoot cameras is the ability to adjust almost anything. While some point and shoot cameras have a Manual mode, the E-PL1 is able to exercise much more control over exposure, adjusting ISO, aperture, and shutter speed to suit the needs of the user. Of course, if that sounds like a lot of work you'd rather not do, the E-PL1 also has an "auto" mode just like any other camera.

Interchangeable lenses. Olympus has an impressive array of lenses that fit the E-PL1. At this point, Olympus has zoom lenses to cover just about every focal length, from a 9mm fisheye to a 300mm telephoto. However, no one lens covers the same range as the lens of a point-ahd-shoot, capable of 12X zoom or greater.

The Bad

Bulky. The E-PL1 is undeniably bulky. It is half an inch thicker, front-to-back, and 60% heavier than the Nikon S8200 -- and that does not include the bulk of the lens, which is required. The E-PL1 isn't as big as a full-fledged superzoom or DSLR, but it's not pocketable by any stretch, either.

Low-resolution screen. Since the E-PL1 was released, camera manufacturers have made great strides in packing high-res LCD screens into their cameras. You'll often see this expressed in dots, which is just a measure of the raw pixels available. The E-PL1's screen has 230,000 dots, while the Nikon S8200's screen has 961,000 dots. The fourfold increase is evident to the eye -- the S8200's screen looks much, much nicer.

More complex. Sure, the budding photographer will love the added control that the E-PL1 gives you over the photographic process, but most people just want to point the camera and take a picture. As such, there is more on the E-PL1 that can go wrong -- more modes to accidentally switch into, more buttons to push without meaning to.

Movies. The E-PL1 is a mixed bag for movies. On the one hand, it has an external microphone port, which allows you to take audio that, to be frank, doesn't sound like it came from an on-camera microphone. On the other hand, capture is limited to 720p/30, and clips are stored in the Motion JPEG format.

The Verdict

If you want to get into photography rather than just take snapshots, the Olympus E-PL1 is a great choice at a bargain price. If, on the other hand, you have no interest in photography and just want a camera to carry around all the time, the Nikon S8200 is your best bet.