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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2014
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Olympus E-M1 versus Pentax Q-S1, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and Q-S1 (1/1.7") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was manufactured 9 months earlier than the Q-S1 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-M1 matches up against the Q-S1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Pentax Q-S1

 E-M1 Q-S1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus E-M1

 Q-S1 E-M1 
AnnouncedAugust 2014October 2013More recent by 9 months

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax Q-S1

 E-M1 Q-S1 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys outside dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Pentax Q-S1 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 versus Pentax Q-S1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M1 compared to the Q-S1.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and Q-S1 is 71 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements just by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and Q-S1.

As you can see, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus E-M1 will result in greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older E-M1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography advice
71
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/320s)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
46
manual focus
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
environment proof
lighter than others in class (497g)
very good high ISO (25,600)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (203g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Sports photography camera
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (350 CIPA)
37
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features tracking focus
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
not so great battery power (250 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography advice
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than others in class (497g)
environment proof
boasts touch to focus
MP count decent (16MP)
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
60
lighter than others (203g)
built-in flash
not so great battery power (250 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Landscape photography camera
73
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery life (350 shots)
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
not so great battery power (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Pentax Q-S1
36
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone port
lighter than others in class (497g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (203 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Pentax Q-S1
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2013-10-28 2014-08-04
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII Q Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Available lenses 107 8
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 497g (1.10 pounds) 203g (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 250 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $799 $250