Olympus E-450 vs Pentax S1

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus E-450 and Pentax S1, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-450 (10MP) and S1 (14MP) and the E-450 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-450 was introduced 23 months prior to the S1 making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-450 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-450 scores vs the S1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-450 and Pentax Optio S1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-450 Gallery and Pentax S1 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-450 has external measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Pentax S1 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-450 and Pentax S1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-450 versus the S1.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-450 and S1 is 77 and 93 respectively.

Sometimes, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions just by researching technical specs. The image below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-450 and S1.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-450 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax S1 will provide you with more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged E-450 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.