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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL1s

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL1s Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-M5
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 III
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
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL1s Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-M5 II versus Olympus E-PL1s, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are created by Olympus. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and E-PL1s (12MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 II was released 4 years after the E-PL1s which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-M5 II scores versus the E-PL1s for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Olympus E-PL1s

 E-M5 II E-PL1s 
LaunchedFebruary 2015November 2010Newer by 52 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus E-M5 II

 E-PL1s E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus E-PL1s

 E-M5 II E-PL1s 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL1s Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 II has outside dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL1s has dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M5 II versus Olympus E-PL1s in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-M5 II against the E-PL1s.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL1s size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 II and E-PL1s is 80 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL1s top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL1s Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to picture the difference between sensor dimensions only by reviewing a spec sheet. The image underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 II and E-PL1s.

As you can see, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should anticipate the Olympus E-M5 II to deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger E-M5 II provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL1s sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL1s Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL1s Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography info
Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography info
71
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography factors
Olympus E-PL1s Street photography factors
82
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has focus by touch
environment proofing
above average ISO range (25,600)
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography factors
Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography factors
65
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
low battery life (310 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery (290 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL1s as a Travel photography camera
74
environment proofing
has focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
low battery life (310 per charge)
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery (290 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL1s as a Landscape photography camera
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
low battery life (310 shots)
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
low resolution (12 megapixels)
bad battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 II
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1s
82
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone socket
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL1s Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus E-PL1s
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIOlympus PEN E-PL1s
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Olympus PEN E-PL1s
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2015-02-06 2010-11-16
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Truepic V
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 469g (1.03 pounds) 334g (0.74 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 images 290 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $699 $599