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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax S1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Successor is Olympus E-P2
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax S1 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-P1 versus Pentax S1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the S1 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was unveiled 19 months before the S1 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-P1 scores against the S1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax S1

 E-P1 S1 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Olympus E-P1

 S1 E-P1 
IntroducedMarch 2011July 2009Fresher by 19 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax S1

 E-P1 S1 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P1 features outside measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Pentax S1 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P1 versus Pentax S1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-P1 compared to the S1.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and S1 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizing purely by going through specifications. The photograph here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and S1.

Plainly, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P1 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax S1 will show extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older E-P1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
Portrait photography with Pentax S1
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
35
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography advice
Pentax S1 Street photography advice
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P1
Sports photography with Pentax S1
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
39
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax S1 Travel photography highlights
43
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
64
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax S1 Landscape photography highlights
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
42
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging features
Pentax S1 Vlogging features
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
28
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax S1
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax Optio S1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-07-29 2011-03-02
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lb) 157 gr (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 260 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $182 $174