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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-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
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Launched August 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-S2
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax K-S1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and K-S1 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL1 was launched 5 years prior to the K-S1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-PL1 matches up against the K-S1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax K-S1

 E-PL1 K-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Olympus E-PL1

 K-S1 E-PL1 
LaunchedAugust 2014May 2010More recent by 52 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K-S1

 E-PL1 K-S1 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 has physical dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Pentax K-S1 has proportions of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax K-S1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1 versus the K-S1.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and K-S1 is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and K-S1.

Clearly, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-S1 will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The older E-PL1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography factors
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
77
has manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Pentax K-S1
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (558 grams)
good high ISO (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography factors
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (290 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames per second)
bad battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography factors
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
60
lighter than competitors in class (558g)
resolution is good (20MP)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
bad battery (410 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S1
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
low resolution (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
bad battery (410 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging information
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging information
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic port
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (558 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K-S1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax K-S1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax K-S1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-05-17 2014-08-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Prime MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 3200 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 5.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 558 grams (1.23 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 78
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 13.0
DXO Low light rating 487 1061
Other
Battery life 290 shots 410 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $288 $339