Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax Optio S1: The Curious Case of Compact Sensor Cameras

In the world of small sensor compacts, where megapixel race stories often top the charts and specs sometimes feel like alphabet soup, it's refreshing to carefully dissect what these cameras truly offer to photographers beyond their spec sheets. Today, we’re pitting two late-2000s/early-2010s compact contenders against each other: the Olympus FE-45 (2009) and the Pentax Optio S1 (2011). Both are slim shooters with fixed lenses aimed at casual to enthusiast photographers seeking pocketable fun without the bulk of DSLRs or mirrorless systems. But as anyone who’s handled small sensor compacts knows, these modestly priced cameras can be surprisingly nuanced in where they shine - and stumble.

Having put both models through their paces, from portrait bokeh tests to pixel-peeping landscapes, I’m excited to share a hands-on, no-nonsense comparison that covers ergonomics, image quality, autofocus, video, and more. So pour your coffee, settle in, and let’s see which tiny titan might be your next camera companion!

Size, Shape, and How They Feel in Your Hands

When choosing a compact camera, the physical feel is often underrated. I mean, what good is a camera that fits in your pocket but feels like a slippery soap bar? On paper both the Olympus FE-45 and Pentax S1 fall solidly in the compact category, yet their dimensions and weight reveal some subtle differences that you can feel when shooting.

Olympus FE-45: The FE-45 is sleek and minimalist at 94 x 62 x 23 mm and only weighs 142 grams, making it one of the lightest in its era. It fits comfortably in my smaller hands, and its slim profile slides well into tight jacket pockets or small purses. However, the lack of pronounced grip means you have to be conscious about your hold, especially in less stable shooting conditions.

Pentax Optio S1: Slightly bigger at 114 x 58 x 28 mm and 157 grams, the S1 carries a bit more heft but compensates with a flatter yet still pocketable shape. I noticed the slightly thicker body gives a more reassuring grip, aided by a gently textured surface. Its longer length means you might need slightly deeper pockets, but for many, the trade-off is better handling and steadier framing.

Ergonomically, both cameras aim for simplicity over complexity - no juxta-heavy buttons or knobs to wrestle with here - but the Pentax’s slightly larger body promotes steadiness, which really aids shooting handheld, especially in lower light. Settle for one or the other, and you’ll want to consider pockets and grip preferences as much as specs.

A Top-Down Look: Controls and Interface

Beyond size, how the controls are arranged and how intuitive the interface feels can make or break your shooting experience - especially for quick street shots or family gatherings where you can't afford to fumble.

Looking from above, you’ll notice some key differences. The Olympus FE-45 sports a straightforward button layout with clearly marked zoom toggle and shutter release but doesn’t offer any dedicated dials or modes. It keeps things friendly for beginners but at a cost of little manual override.

The Pentax S1, meanwhile, presents a slightly more complex control system, including a dedicated macro button and flash mode toggles. Its shutter release and zoom rocker feel a touch firmer, providing more tactile feedback. For those who occasionally crave a little manual lens control (yes, the S1 supports manual focus, albeit limited), this is a genuine perk.

While neither camera offers aperture or shutter priority modes - and you won’t find full manual exposure control here - the Pentax’s more comprehensive button spread gives it an edge in shooting versatility.

Sensor Specs and What They Mean for Your Images

Small sensor compacts rarely test as champions of image quality, but that doesn't mean they can’t produce images worthy of a digital shoebox or casual sharing. The heart of any camera is its sensor, though, so let’s delve into that technical core.

Both cameras use a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, a standard choice for compacts at the time, but the Pentax edges ahead with a resolution of 14 megapixels (4288 x 3216) versus Olympus’s 10 megapixels (3648 x 2736). More megapixels on roughly the same sensor size generally mean smaller photosites and possibly higher noise, but Pentax also offers a higher max native ISO of 6400 compared to the Olympus’s max of 1600 - at least on paper.

What surprised me in controlled ISO comparisons was the Olympus’s more forgiving noise at mid-level ISOs (up to ISO 400), while the Pentax’s higher resolution saved detail at base and low ISO but introduced more noise at higher settings. Of course, at these sensor sizes and pixel densities, don’t expect DSLR-level raw image quality or dynamic range - neither camera supports RAW, relying on JPEGs only.

Both sensors come equipped with anti-aliasing filters to reduce moiré but at the expense of some micro-detail, which is typical of the era. Their small sensors limit depth of field effects naturally, so portraits have limited bokeh on both.

Taking a Peek: The Rear Screens and User Interface

A key frustration with many compacts is their rear LCD displays, often small, low-resolution, and temperamental under sunlight. Since we rely mostly on LCDs for composing and reviewing, this is a crucial usability factor.

The Olympus FE-45 offers a 2.5-inch fixed LCD screen with a modest 230k dots resolution - not impressive but serviceable for casual framing and menu navigation. The lack of touchscreen or swivel limits flexibility in tricky angles.

The Pentax Optio S1 nudges ahead with a slightly larger 2.7-inch TFT color LCD, also 230k dots but with an anti-reflective coating. That coat truly helps in sunlight, a frequent outdoor nuisance I encountered. The LCD’s slightly larger size and better viewing angles made framing street scenes and landscapes easier and more enjoyable.

Neither display is selfie-friendly, nor do they incorporate touch functions, which is understandable for their times but less ideal for today’s selfie or vlog aficionados.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus (AF) is a critical metric - especially if you shoot anything moving (kids, pets, wildlife, sports). Both cameras use contrast-detection AF systems, which can be a bit sluggish compared to modern phase detection but certainly workable for casual photography.

The Olympus FE-45 employs a single AF point without face or eye detection, relying on center-weighted focus. From my testing, AF locking was generally reliable in good light but noticeably slow under dim conditions or complex scenes. There’s no continuous AF, so tracking moving subjects is practically non-existent. If your intended use is static stills or occasional candids, FE-45’s AF can suffice, but fast action is off the table.

In contrast, the Pentax S1 steps things up with nine AF points and multi-area tracking capabilities - still contrast detect but with improved algorithms. Face detection is missing, but the multi-area AF combined with manual focus options gives more control, especially for macro or close-up work. The continuous AF mode is missing, yet the single AF and tracking mode allow better lock-on for slower moving subjects.

Both cameras lack eye/animal AF - tech that only started to emerge some years after their release. For wildlife or sports, both feel limited, but Pentax’s more advanced AF system provides a marginal edge.

Lens Ranges and Macro Capabilities: Versatility in Your Pocket

Though fixed lens compacts don’t offer the interchangeable freedom of DSLRs, their zoom ranges and close focusing distances shape what you can capture.

The Olympus FE-45 sports a 36-108mm equivalent zoom lens (3× zoom, f/3.1–5.9). That’s a decent walk-around zoom suitable for portraits and short telephoto shots but can struggle in tight spaces or with subjects needing wide field capture. Its 5cm macro focus limit lets you get close enough for some flower or trinket shots, but depth of field and detail are limited by the sensor.

The Pentax Optio S1 boasts a more ambitious 28-140mm equivalent zoom (5× zoom, f/3.5–5.5), extending from moderately wide angles to respectable telephoto. The difference here is notable: wider landscapes, more compositional flexibility, and an actual telephoto reach line outdoor subjects appreciate. The macro focus limit is an impressively close 1cm, a real boon for detail lovers and close-up hobbyists wanting crisp shots of insects or textures.

In real-world tests, I found the Pentax’s zoom versatility and macro prowess far more flexible for varied shooting scenarios, though small sensor constraints mean don’t expect DSLR-like bokeh or razor-sharp macros.

Portraits, People, and the Sweetness of Skin Tones

Portrait photography on small sensor compacts is always a challenge - limited aperture control, background separation, and oftentimes uninspiring color science.

Testing both cameras on portrait subjects, I appreciated the Pentax’s broader zoom range for framing nearer and wider shots, which you can’t do on the Olympus. That helps a lot with composition freedom. However, neither camera produces creamy bokeh, thanks to their small sensors and relatively slow lenses.

Color reproduction on skin tones slightly favored the Olympus FE-45, which rendered natural, warm tones with less tendency to oversaturate reds or yellows. The Pentax S1 sometimes veered toward cooler hues, which required some minor post-processing tweaks for pleasing portraits.

Autofocus accuracy for faces was a weak point for both, as no face or eye detection existed - manual focus (on Pentax) helped at close distances but is fiddly. The Olympus’s slower AF made nail-biting portrait sessions less enjoyable.

In essence: for snapshot portraits, either works; for programmable focus precision, Pentax beats Olympus slightly, but skin tones may require a touch more attention.

Landscape and Outdoor Imaging: Detail, Dynamic Range, and Weather Resistance

Landscape lovers crave high resolution, broad dynamic range, and ruggedness allowing shooting under varying conditions.

With resolution, the Pentax’s 14MP advantage proves beneficial - the larger pixel count translates to more detailed landscape captures. Its max native ISO of 6400 (versus Olympus’s 1600) could theoretically help in dusk or dawn shots, though noise quickly rises at those extremes. Neither camera excels at dynamic range; their CCD sensors and JPEG-only output limit shadow recovery and highlight preservation.

Weather sealing? Neither camera is splash, dust, or shock resistant - both are vulnerable to elements, so outdoor protective measures are advised.

If landscape control and high-res output are paramount within the compact segment, the Pentax S1 offers better image fidelity, despite both being constrained by sensor size.

Wildlife and Sports: Is Fast Enough Fast?

For shooting moving subjects like wildlife or sports action, autofocus speed and continuous frame rate are key.

Neither camera was designed for rapid-fire shooting: Olympus FE-45 lacks continuous shooting mode; the Pentax S1 offers a meager 1 fps burst rate, insufficient for serious action.

AF tracking on the Pentax somewhat helps follow slower wildlife but lacks phase detection speed. Olympus’s lack of continuous AF modes and fewer AF points mean stationary subjects are safer bets.

Neither camera handles low-light sports or wildlife well; high ISO noise and slow shutter speed caps limit usability. For anything beyond casual snaps, I’d look elsewhere.

Street and Travel Photography: Portability, Discretion, and Battery Life

Street photography demands stealth, quick reaction, and portability; travel photography demands versatility and durability, plus long battery life.

Olympus FE 45 front Olympus FE 45 screen back Pentax S1 front Pentax S1 screen back

Both cameras’ small sizes contribute to unobtrusive street shooting, but the Olympus’s lighter weight and slimmer profile lend it a slight edge for all-day carry without fatigue. The Pentax feels chunkier but not intrusive.

Battery life is a weak point: the Olympus specs don’t report battery life, but in my sessions, I encountered frequent charging needs, typical for small compacts. The Pentax lists a respectable 260 shots per charge under CIPA standards - better but not thrilling.

Neither camera features wireless connectivity, so transferring images mid-trip necessitates card readers or USB.

Overall, for casual street and travel shooting, the Olympus wins for packability, Pentax for control and image quality. Neither is ideal for professional travel where battery life and connectivity are vital.

Macro and Close-Up: Who Gets the Details?

Close-up photography can be rewarding even with small sensors if the camera supports tight focusing.

Pentax’s 1cm macro capability (versus Olympus’s 5cm) means you can get physically closer to your subject for compelling detail shots. Additionally, Pentax’s manual focus lets you finetune focus for tricky close-ups - Olympus doesn’t offer this, which can be frustrating.

Both employ sensor-shift/digital image stabilization to help handheld macro shots, but be mindful: digital stabilization (Olympus FE-45) can degrade image sharpness somewhat more than sensor-shift (Pentax S1).

Night and Astro Photography: Low Light and ISO Performance

Neither camera excels in night or astrophotography given sensor constraints and creative control limits, but how do they stack up?

Olympus maxes out at ISO 1600 and Pentax at ISO 6400, but practically speaking, ISO above 400 on either introduces significant noise. Long shutter speeds are possible down to 4 seconds, but neither features Bulb mode.

Pentax’s sensor-shift stabilization and wider zoom range help handheld night shots, but for astrophotography, I recommend more capable cameras.

Video Performance: Doorway to Motion

Neither camera targets video enthusiasts. Both max out at VGA or 720p resolution, with Olympus surprisingly limited to 640x480 at 30 fps and Pentax maxing at 1280x720 at 30 fps - both using Motion JPEG format, notorious for large file sizes and limited compression.

No external mic or headphone ports, no 4K or advanced codecs - video recording is arguably an afterthought. Stabilization helps somewhat, but don’t expect cinematic quality.

Professional Use: Raw Files, Workflow and Reliability

Neither the Olympus FE-45 nor Pentax S1 offers RAW shooting capability - JPEG only - which seriously limits post-processing potential for professionals.

Build quality feels average - plastic chassis without weather sealing. Neither camera will endure rough treatment expected in professional environments. They lack advanced connection options or tethering capabilities.

File formats, ISO ranges, and memory card compatibility (xD-Picture Card/microSD for Olympus, SD-based cards for Pentax) reflect their consumer-level positioning.

Connectivity and Storage: Sharing and Saving Images

Both cameras omit wireless connectivity such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or NFC, which is frustrating in today’s instant-sharing era. Transferring images relies on USB 2.0 or popping cards into readers.

Storage media differs: Olympus’s dual compatibility with xD-Picture Card, microSD, and internal memory offers flexible options but xD-cards are increasingly legacy. Pentax uses more universal SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, more commonplace and accessible.

Battery and Endurance: Shooting Duration Realities

The Olympus FE-45, while unspecified on battery life, typically requires frequent charging due to small internal batteries and active LCD usage.

The Pentax Optio S1 specifies approximately 260 shots per charge under CIPA norms, offering better endurance but still underwhelming compared to even mid-range CSCs today. Both use proprietary rechargeable batteries, so carrying spares is advisable for longer shoots.

Price vs. Performance: What You Get for Your Buck

At launch, Olympus FE-45 was priced around $130 USD and Pentax Optio S1 at about $174 USD. Both seem affordable for beginner compacts but come with compromises.

Pentax S1 justifies its slightly higher cost with increased resolution, wider zoom, better macro, stabilization, and longer battery life. Olympus FE-45 shines in pocketability and simplicity, making it appealing for users wanting a no-frills point-and-shoot.

Wrapping It Up: Which Compact Camera Deserves Your Attention?

So - after this deep dive, which small sensor compact takes the crown? It depends.

• Choose the Olympus FE-45 if:
  You prize ultimate pocketability, want something super simple for casual family trips or street candid snaps, and prefer warm, natural skin tones with decent stabilization for its class. It’s a trusty lightweight companion for everyday snapshots.

• Choose the Pentax Optio S1 if:
  You need more creative flexibility: greater zoom range, sharper 14MP images, better macro capabilities, and slightly more sophisticated autofocus. You’re willing to accept a bit more bulk for improved control, stabilization, and longer battery life. Ideal for travel photographers who want a versatile compact without stepping into mirrorless territory.

Neither camera is suited for professionals or serious enthusiasts seeking advanced features like RAW, manual exposure modes, or ultra-fast continuous shooting - but for their era and category, both provide reasonable value when expectations are aligned.

Final Thoughts

I always tell friends hunting for their "next camera" - know what you want to shoot, and the gear will follow. Neither Olympus FE-45 nor Pentax S1 will replace your mirrorless or DSLR, but their simplicity can spark fun and spur creativity in casual shooting.

As an experienced reviewer, I tested these cameras beyond specs: hand-held in dim light, on bustling streets, during sunny hikes, and in quiet portrait sessions. Each camera revealed its personality in those moments - Olympus with modest charm, Pentax with modest ambition.

If your budget allows, Pentax S1 offers the slight edge overall, but Olympus FE-45’s no-nonsense ease is nothing to scoff at. Either way, these affordable compact cameras remind us all that good photography isn’t just about gear - it’s about seeing, trying, and enjoying.

Happy shooting!