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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic S1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 front
Portability
54
Imaging
75
Features
84
Overall
78

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released May 2010
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 1021g - 149 x 110 x 97mm
  • Introduced February 2019
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic S1 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic S1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and S1 (24MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and S1 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1 was introduced 9 years before the S1 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-PL1 grades against the S1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic S1

 E-PL1 S1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Olympus E-PL1

 S1 E-PL1 
IntroducedFebruary 2019May 2010More modern by 106 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution2100k230kSharper screen (+1870k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic S1

 E-PL1 S1 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic S1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you should consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 features outer dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Panasonic S1 has sizing of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") having a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic S1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL1 vs the S1.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic S1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and S1 is 86 and 54 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic S1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The image here might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and S1.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Panasonic S1 will deliver greater detail using its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic S1 Portrait photography details
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
85
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/320s)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography details
Panasonic S1 Street photography details
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
70
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
weather proofing
very good high ISO (51,200)
more heavy than competitors (1,021g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography info
Panasonic S1 Sports photography info
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
low battery pack (380 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S1 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
59
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
good resolution (24 megapixels)
low battery pack (380 per charge)
more heavy than competitors (1,021g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Panasonic S1
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
no Timelapse mode
81
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Leica L mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
has double storage slots
low battery pack (380 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging information
Panasonic S1 Vlogging information
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone support
32
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
more heavy than competitors (1,021g)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic S1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2010-05-17 2019-02-01
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 51200
Highest enhanced ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 225
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Leica L
Total lenses 107 30
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 2,100k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 5,760k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/320 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 pounds) 1021 gr (2.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 149 x 110 x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 95
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 25.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 14.5
DXO Low light rating 487 3333
Other
Battery life 290 images 380 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card -
Storage slots 1 Two
Retail price $288 $2,498