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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Launched May 2010
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was unveiled 10 months prior to the RS1500 so they are of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PL1 grades against the RS1500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax RS1500

 E-PL1 RS1500 

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus E-PL1

 RS1500 E-PL1 
IntroducedMarch 2011May 2010Newer by 10 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax RS1500

 E-PL1 RS1500 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 comes with outer 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) and the Pentax RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1 and the RS1500.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and RS1500 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions only by going through a spec sheet. The image below might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and RS1500.

Clearly, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Pentax RS1500 will provide greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
35
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography features
Pentax RS1500 Street photography features
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
54
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography advice
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery power (290 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
37
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography information
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography information
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
67
weather proofing
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography features
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (290 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
40
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
megapixel count good (14MP)
weather proofing
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging highlights
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
25
fairly wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-05-17 2011-03-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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 334g (0.74 lb) 157g (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 260 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $288 $150