Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic Lumix S1: A Detailed Comparison for Every Photographer

Choosing the right camera is a journey - balancing your creative ambitions, technical requirements, and budget realities. Today, we compare two distinct mirrorless cameras, each representing a different era, design philosophy, and target audience: the Olympus PEN E-P5 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1. Both are excellent in their own right but aimed at very different users.

Having personally tested thousands of mirrorless cameras, this in-depth comparison will guide you through the real-world differences, strengths, and compromises of these two models. Whether you’re exploring street photography, wildlife, or professional work, this guide will help you identify which camera fits your creative journey best.

Unpacking the Designs: Size, Handling, and Control Layout

When you hold a camera, how it feels can deeply influence your shooting experience. Olympus’s PEN E-P5 takes a compact, retro-inspired rangefinder approach, while Panasonic’s S1 offers a robust DSLR-style body built for professional use.

Olympus E-P5

• Form Factor: Compact, lightweight (420g), rangefinder-style body ideal for portability and street use.
• Dimensions: 122 x 69 x 37 mm - slips easily into everyday bags.
• Ergonomics: Smaller grip, less pronounced buttons tailored for casual shooters or enthusiasts seeking lightweight gear.
• Control Layout: Minimalistic but thoughtfully placed dials and buttons; touch-capacitive LCD encourages intuitive control.

Panasonic Lumix S1

• Form Factor: Large, heavy (1021g) SLR-style body designed for stability in demanding environments.
• Dimensions: 149 x 110 x 97 mm - more of a specialist’s tool, demands a dedicated camera bag.
• Ergonomics: Deep grip, fully customizable buttons, and illuminated controls for working in low light or challenging conditions.
• Control Layout: Complex top dials and function buttons offer quick access when shooting pro assignments.

Bottom Line on Handling:
The Olympus PEN E-P5 excels if your priority is lightweight travel and casual street feel, while the Panasonic S1 favors professionals needing ruggedness, extensive control, and comfortable grip during prolonged shoots.

Sensor and Image Quality: Exploring the Heart of the Camera

Sensor technology greatly influences sharpness, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The PEN E-P5 uses a Four Thirds sensor, whereas the Panasonic S1 boasts a large full-frame sensor.

Specification	Olympus E-P5	Panasonic Lumix S1
Sensor Size	Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm)	Full-frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm)
Resolution	16 MP	24 MP
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Native ISO Range	100 - 25600	50 - 51200 (extendable to 204800)
Anti-Aliasing Filter	Yes	No
Dynamic Range (DxO)	12.4 EV	14.5 EV
Color Depth (DxO)	22.8 bits	25.2 bits
Low-Light ISO (DxO)	895	3333

Technical Insights:

• Sensor Size: Full-frame sensors like the S1’s capture more light and detail, aiding in smoother gradients and higher image quality, especially in challenging light.
• Resolution: The S1 offers 24MP ideal for large prints and cropping; PEN E-P5’s 16MP remains solid for web, prints, and casual use.
• Dynamic Range: The significant dynamic range advantage on the S1 allows better retention of highlight and shadow details in landscapes or high contrast scenes.
• ISO Performance: Panasonic’s S1 shines in low light with clean high ISO capability, vital for weddings, concerts, and astrophotography. The E-P5 is decent but shows more noise beyond ISO 1600.

Viewing Systems and Interface: Composing Your Shot with Confidence

A powerful viewfinder or LCD screen can improve composition and workflow tremendously.

Olympus E-P5

• LCD: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1037K dots; clear and responsive but limited size.
• Viewfinder: Optional electronic viewfinder sold separately, comparatively lower resolution.
• Interface: Touch focus and menu navigation make it approachable.

Panasonic Lumix S1

• LCD: Larger 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen with 2100K dots resolution for stunning clarity.
• Viewfinder: Large, bright 5760K-dot OLED EVF with 100% coverage and 0.78x magnification, rivaling optical viewfinders.
• Additional: Top status LCD panel provides quick glance info, illuminated buttons enhance usability.

Practical Applications:
For outdoors and direct sunlight, the S1’s EVF is a standout for clarity and framing precision. The PEN’s smaller screen suits casual shooting but requires some adjustment in bright conditions.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy in Action

Autofocus choices directly affect your ability to capture fleeting moments.

Feature	Olympus E-P5	Panasonic S1
Focus Points	35 Contrast Detection	225 Contrast Detection (No Phase Detection)
Face Detection	Yes	Yes
Animal Eye AF	No	No
Continuous AF	Yes	Yes
AF Tracking	Yes	Yes

Real-World AF Performance:

• The E-P5’s contrast detection AF is generally accurate but slower and less reliable in low light or rapid action.
• The S1 benefits from a more complex AF system with many focus points allowing finer precision and smoother tracking on moving subjects like wildlife or sports.
• Neither supports phase-detection AF on the sensor, but Panasonic’s algorithms and processing power enhance focus acquisition speed significantly compared to Olympus’s older model.

Image Stabilization: Keeping It Steady

Both cameras offer sensor-based 5-axis image stabilization - a boon for handheld shooting.

• Olympus’s in-body IS is highly effective for a smaller sensor, compensating for 4-5 stops of shake.
• Panasonic’s S1 stabilization pairs well with dual IS enabled lenses to deliver up to 6 stops, invaluable when using slow shutter speeds or telephoto lenses.

Tip: This feature benefits macro, low light, and travel photographers who rely on flexibility without always packing tripods.

Lens Ecosystem: What Glass Can You Attach?

A camera’s versatility grows with lens choice.

Lens Mount	Number of Native Lenses	Lens Format
Olympus E-P5	107 Micro Four Thirds lenses	APS-C / Micro Four Thirds
Panasonic S1	About 30 Leica L-mount lenses	Full-frame

The Micro Four Thirds system is vast, affordable, and diverse thanks to Panasonic and Olympus’s collaborative lens lineups. It’s lightweight, making it ideal for travel and casual shooting.

The L-mount alliance (Panasonic, Leica, Sigma) is growing, offering pro-grade lenses with superb optics but fewer absolute choices compared to MFT - though enough for most professional needs.

Shutter and Burst Performance: Catching the Decisive Moment

For fast action, continuous shooting counts.

Aspect	Olympus E-P5	Panasonic S1
Max Shutter Speed	1/8000 sec	1/8000 sec (mechanical & electronic)
Silent Shutter	No	Yes (up to 1/8000)
Burst Rate	9 fps	9 fps (mechanical shutter)

Both offer respectable speed for most photography styles, with the S1's silent shutter a welcome asset in discreet or noise-sensitive environments like weddings or theater.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Stills

If you shoot hybrid photography and video, differences become apparent.

Video Specs	Olympus E-P5	Panasonic Lumix S1
Max Resolution	Full HD 1080p @ 30fps	4K UHD 3840 x 2160 @ 60fps
Video Formats	H.264	MP4, H.264, H.265
Stabilization	5-axis sensor IS	5-axis sensor IS + lens IS
Microphone Input	No	Yes
Headphone Output	No	Yes
Advanced Features	Basic timelapse	4K Photo Mode, Variable Frame Rate, Focus Bracketing

While the PEN E-P5 can handle casual video, Panasonic’s S1 is a clear winner for creators needing professional-level 4K video quality, better audio control, and more creative shooting modes.

Weather Sealing and Durability

For outdoor photographers, weather sealing can be critical.

• Panasonic S1 offers some degree of environmental sealing against dust and moisture - helpful for landscape, wildlife, and event shooters exposed to the elements.
• Olympus E-P5 lacks weatherproofing, better suited to controlled environments or dry weather.

Battery Life and Storage

Feature	Olympus E-P5	Panasonic S1
Battery Life (CIPA)	330 shots	380 shots
Storage Slots	1 (SD/SDHC/SDXC)	2 (SD/SDHC/SDXC, UHS-II support)
Charging	Battery pack only	USB charging via high-power adapters

The S1’s dual card slots and higher battery capacity support professional workflows requiring backup and extended shooting times.

Wireless Connectivity and Extras

• Both feature built-in WiFi for smartphone remote control and image transfer.
• The Panasonic S1 adds Bluetooth connectivity for faster pairing and stability.
• Olympus’s lack of NFC and Bluetooth is a minor limitation for seamless modern connectivity.
• Panasonic supports USB charging, a convenient feature when traveling light.

Real-World Image Samples and Performance Ratings

Seeing sample images helps contextualize specs into real outputs.

• Olympus E-P5 images show sharp detail, vibrant colors, and pleasing skin tones in daylight, though noise is more apparent starting at ISO 1600.
• Panasonic S1 delivers richer detail, improved dynamic range, and smoother shadows/highlights, making it more versatile for challenging lighting and large-format prints.

The S1 scores higher on image quality, handling, autofocus, and video capabilities, reflecting its higher price point and professional focus.

Breaking down performance by genre:

Photography Type	Olympus E-P5	Panasonic S1
Portrait	Good skin tones, decent bokeh	Excellent bokeh and skin rendition thanks to full-frame sensor
Landscape	Suffers dynamic range limits	Excellent range and detail retention
Wildlife	Limited autofocus speed	Fast, accurate tracking
Sports	Adequate burst rate	Advanced tracking and silent shutter
Street	Compact, discreet	Less discreet due to size
Macro	Good stabilization	Superior focusing precision and stabilization
Night/Astro	Limited high ISO	Exceptional ISO and exposure control
Video	Basic Full HD	Professional 4K, audio inputs, advanced features
Travel	Lightweight and compact	Bulkier but versatile
Professional Work	Limited weather sealing and storage	Robust, weather-sealed, dual cards

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Olympus PEN E-P5 Is Ideal If You:

• Want a compact, stylish mirrorless for travel, street, and casual photography.
• Prefer a lighter system with an extensive Micro Four Thirds lens selection.
• Shoot primarily stills in daylight or moderate conditions, with basic video needs.
• Are budget-conscious but desire in-body 5-axis image stabilization.
• Enjoy touch screen operation with a tilting LCD for creative angles.

Panasonic Lumix S1 Excels If You:

• Require professional-grade image quality, especially for large prints/weddings/landscape.
• Need robust autofocus, burst rate, and silent shutter for fast action or discreet shoots.
• Want advanced 4K video features and audio input/output for hybrid content creation.
• Value weather sealing and reliability in harsh environments.
• Prefer a full-frame sensor for superior low-light performance and bokeh control.
• Need dual storage slots and longer battery life for extended shooting sessions.

Final Thoughts: Making Your Next Step with Confidence

The Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic S1 represent two distinct worlds. The E-P5 is a delightful, affordable entry-point into quality mirrorless photography with portability as a core asset. The Panasonic S1 is a powerhouse built for the pro and serious enthusiast, delivering extensive control, versatility, and top-tier image and video quality.

When selecting between these two, consider how your photography aspirations align with their core strengths. If you prioritise lightweight gear and casual shooting, the PEN E-P5 is a smart, enjoyable choice. If your demanding professional workflow and creative ambitions warrant a full-frame powerhouse, investing in the Panasonic S1 will reward you with unmatched performance.

We encourage you to visit a camera store to handle both, compare ergonomics and interface, and perhaps test them with lenses you plan to use. Pairing the right camera with your style will empower your photography and video-making for years to come.

Happy shooting!

Explore lenses, accessories, and expert tutorials to maximize whichever system you choose. Both Olympus and Panasonic offer vibrant communities and resources to help you grow.