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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1s

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1s Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Revealed March 2009
Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched November 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1s Overview

The following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL1s, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are designed by Olympus. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the E-PL1s (12MP) is fairly similar and they feature the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was unveiled 20 months before the E-PL1s making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-30 scores versus the E-PL1s when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 E-30 E-PL1s 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus E-30

 E-PL1s E-30 
LaunchedNovember 2010March 2009Newer by 20 months

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL1s

 E-30 E-PL1s 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1s Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 enjoys exterior measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") along with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL1s has proportions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL1s in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-30 compared to the E-PL1s.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1s size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and E-PL1s is 60 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1s top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1s Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions purely by going over technical specs. The picture below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and E-PL1s.

As you can tell, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the identical megapixels so you should expect similar quality of photographs although you will want to factor the production date of the products into consideration. The more aged E-30 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1s sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1s Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1s Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography advice
59
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-PL1s Street photography highlights
72
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography factors
51
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (750 CIPA)
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-30
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1s
49
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery (750 shots)
low MP (12MP)
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography info
Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography info
52
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7")
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (750 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging advice
18
can't shoot video
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL1s Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL1s
 Olympus E-30Olympus PEN E-PL1s
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-30 Olympus PEN E-PL1s
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-03-24 2010-11-16
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Truepic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695 grams (1.53 lb) 334 grams (0.74 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 photographs 290 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 BLS-1
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $1,299 $599