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Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL1s

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
31
Overall
38
Olympus E-400 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL1s Key Specs

Olympus E-400
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 435g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Introduced September 2006
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-410
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
  • Introduced November 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL1s Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Olympus E-400 and Olympus E-PL1s, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-400 (10MP) and the E-PL1s (12MP) is very similar and they use the same exact sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-400 was launched 5 years prior to the E-PL1s and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-400 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-400 scores against the E-PL1s in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-400 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 E-400 E-PL1s 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus E-400

 E-PL1s E-400 
IntroducedNovember 2010September 2006Fresher by 50 months
Display sizing2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k215kClearer display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-400 and Olympus E-PL1s

 E-400 E-PL1s 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL1s Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-400 has exterior dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 435 grams (0.96 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL1s has proportions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-400 and Olympus E-PL1s in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-400 compared to the E-PL1s.

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL1s size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-400 and E-PL1s is 77 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL1s top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL1s Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual here may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-400 and E-PL1s.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus E-PL1s to deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older E-400 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL1s sensor size comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL1s Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL1s Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-400 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography information
46
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
manual mode not possible
megapixel count low (10MP)
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-400 Street photography details
Olympus E-PL1s Street photography details
60
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-400 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL1s as a Sports photography camera
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-400 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography factors
49
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
52
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-400 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography factors
45
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
missing Time Lapse function
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-400 Vlogging information
Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging information
9
no video recording
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-400 vs Olympus E-PL1s Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-400 and Olympus E-PL1s
 Olympus E-400Olympus PEN E-PL1s
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-400 Olympus PEN E-PL1s
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2006-09-14 2010-11-16
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Truepic V
Sensor type CCD 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 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
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 focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 2.7"
Display resolution 215 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 435g (0.96 lb) 334g (0.74 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 290 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at release $599 $599