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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced November 2010
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL2
Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2 Overview

Here is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and they are both created by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and E-PM2 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1s was announced 3 years before the E-PM2 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-PL1s grades against the E-PM2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus E-PM2

 E-PL1s E-PM2 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 E-PM2 E-PL1s 
IntroducedMay 2013November 2010Fresher by 30 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus E-PM2

 E-PL1s E-PM2 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1s comes with outer dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Olympus E-PM2 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL1s and the E-PM2.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and E-PM2 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing simply by researching specs. The visual here may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and E-PM2.

All in all, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus E-PM2 to render more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older E-PL1s will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PM2 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
71
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography info
Olympus E-PM2 Street photography info
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery pack (290 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography details
Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography details
52
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (290 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
66
offers focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography highlights
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging details
Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging details
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
36
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus E-PM2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus E-PM2
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sOlympus PEN E-PM2
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Olympus PEN E-PM2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-11-16 2013-05-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/250 secs
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 269 grams (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 932
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 360 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $599 $448