Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic XS1

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic XS1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and XS1 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and XS1 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL1 was announced 3 years prior to the XS1 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-PL1 scores against the XS1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PL1 Gallery and Panasonic XS1 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 features physical measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic XS1 has proportions of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") having a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic XS1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL1 vs the XS1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and XS1 is 86 and 97 respectively.

Generally, its hard to envision the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reading specifications. The pic underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and XS1.

Plainly, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic XS1 will offer you extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.