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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-15 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed November 2010
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced June 2013
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL1s versus Olympus SZ-15, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are built by Olympus. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and SZ-15 (16MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and SZ-15 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1s was unveiled 3 years earlier than the SZ-15 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short view of how the E-PL1s matches up versus the SZ-15 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus SZ-15

 E-PL1s SZ-15 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 SZ-15 E-PL1s 
IntroducedJune 2013November 2010Fresher by 31 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus SZ-15

 E-PL1s SZ-15 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s has got external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-15 has proportions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1s versus Olympus SZ-15 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1s versus the SZ-15.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and SZ-15 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing merely by going over a spec sheet. The visual here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1s and SZ-15.

As you can see, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1s using its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Olympus SZ-15 will offer you greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos more aggressively. The older E-PL1s is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography details
Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography details
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
44
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
features face detection focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Street photography with Olympus SZ-15
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (250 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-15
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
53
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography highlights
Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography highlights
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than competitors in class (250 grams)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (23mm)
long reach (483mm)
no Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography information
Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography information
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
49
has manual focus
relatively wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging information
Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging information
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
34
relatively wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (250g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus SZ-15
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sOlympus SZ-15
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Olympus SZ-15
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-11-16 2013-06-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 23-483mm (21.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 pounds) 250 gr (0.55 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $599 $200