Nikon 1 S1 vs Olympus E-PL5
92 Imaging
40 Features
56 Overall
46
88 Imaging
51 Features
72 Overall
59
Nikon 1 S1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Nikon 1 Mount
- 197g - 102 x 61 x 30mm
- Announced June 2013
- Renewed by Nikon 1 S2
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
- Revealed September 2012
Photography Glossary Nikon 1 S1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview
The following is a extended review of the Nikon 1 S1 versus Olympus E-PL5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Olympus. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the 1 S1 (10MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) and the 1 S1 (1") and E-PL5 (Four Thirds) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe 1 S1 was brought out 10 months after the E-PL5 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the 1 S1 grades vs the E-PL5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
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This is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon 1 S1 and Olympus PEN E-PL5. The entire galleries are available at Nikon 1 S1 Gallery and Olympus E-PL5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon 1 S1 over the Olympus E-PL5
| 1 S1 | E-PL5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | June 2013 | September 2012 | Newer by 10 months |
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Nikon 1 S1
| E-PL5 | 1 S1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting screen | |
| Selfie screen | Easy selfies | |||
| Touch screen | Quickly navigate |
Common features in the Nikon 1 S1 and Olympus E-PL5
| 1 S1 | E-PL5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually | Very precise focusing | |||
| Screen sizing | 3" | 3" | Equivalent screen sizing | |
| Screen resolution | 460k | 460k | Exact same screen resolution |
Nikon 1 S1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 S1 features physical measurements of 102mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL5 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).
Look at the Nikon 1 S1 versus Olympus E-PL5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the 1 S1 versus the E-PL5.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 1 S1 and E-PL5 is 92 and 88 respectively.
Nikon 1 S1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison
Normally, its difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading technical specs. The picture here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the 1 S1 and E-PL5.
As you have seen, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 1 S1 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Olympus E-PL5 will deliver extra detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The newer 1 S1 will have a benefit in sensor innovation.
Nikon 1 S1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder
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Nikon 1 S1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications
| Nikon 1 S1 | Olympus PEN E-PL5 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Company | Nikon | Olympus |
| Model type | Nikon 1 S1 | Olympus PEN E-PL5 |
| Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
| Announced | 2013-06-21 | 2012-09-17 |
| Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1" | Four Thirds |
| Sensor dimensions | 13.2 x 8.8mm | 17.3 x 13mm |
| Sensor surface area | 116.2mm² | 224.9mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 10 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 |
| Full resolution | 3872 x 2592 | 4608 x 3456 |
| Max native ISO | 12800 | 25600 |
| Min native ISO | 100 | 200 |
| RAW photos | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Touch to focus | ||
| Continuous autofocus | ||
| Single autofocus | ||
| Tracking autofocus | ||
| Selective autofocus | ||
| Center weighted autofocus | ||
| Autofocus multi area | ||
| Autofocus live view | ||
| Face detection autofocus | ||
| Contract detection autofocus | ||
| Phase detection autofocus | ||
| Total focus points | 135 | 35 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens support | Nikon 1 | Micro Four Thirds |
| Available lenses | 13 | 107 |
| Crop factor | 2.7 | 2.1 |
| Screen | ||
| Screen type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
| Screen diagonal | 3 inches | 3 inches |
| Resolution of screen | 460k dots | 460k dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch function | ||
| Screen technology | TFT LCD | - |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | None | Electronic (optional) |
| Features | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 30 secs | 60 secs |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
| Maximum silent shutter speed | 1/16000 secs | - |
| Continuous shooting rate | 15.0 frames per second | 8.0 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated flash | ||
| Flash distance | 5.00 m | 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) |
| Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) |
| External flash | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Maximum flash synchronize | 1/60 secs | 1/250 secs |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment metering | ||
| Average metering | ||
| Spot metering | ||
| Partial metering | ||
| AF area metering | ||
| Center weighted metering | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 1072 x 720 (60 fps) 640 x 240 (400), 320 x 120 (1200) | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Video format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG |
| Mic support | ||
| Headphone support | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | Optional | Eye-Fi Connected |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environment sealing | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 197 gr (0.43 lb) | 325 gr (0.72 lb) |
| Dimensions | 102 x 61 x 30mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.2") | 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around rating | 56 | 72 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 21.4 | 22.8 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.1 | 12.3 |
| DXO Low light rating | 397 | 889 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 220 photos | 360 photos |
| Form of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | EN-EL20 | BLS-5 |
| Self timer | Yes | Yes (2 or 12 sec) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC card | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Card slots | One | One |
| Pricing at launch | $231 | $400 |