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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Released April 2009
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the FS12 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and FS12 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was manufactured 14 months after the FS12 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-PL1 matches up vs the FS12 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic FS12

 E-PL1 FS12 
ReleasedMay 2010April 2009More modern by 14 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus E-PL1

 FS12 E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FS12

 E-PL1 FS12 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 has got physical measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic FS12 has sizing of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 and the FS12.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and FS12 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to see the difference in sensor sizes only by looking through technical specs. The picture here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and FS12.

As you can tell, both of the cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL1 has got the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF easier. The more recent E-PL1 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Panasonic FS12
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
21
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography details
Panasonic FS12 Street photography details
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Sports photography camera
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery power (290 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Panasonic FS12
51
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography advice
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery power (290 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging info
Panasonic FS12 Vlogging info
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic port
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2010-05-17 2009-04-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 31-124mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lbs) 129 gr (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $288 $228