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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL2
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released February 2012
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Overview

The following is a extended assessment of the Olympus E-PL1s versus Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL1s was manufactured 14 months prior to the SZ-31MR iHS which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL1s matches up against the SZ-31MR iHS with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 E-PL1s SZ-31MR iHS 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Olympus E-PL1s

 SZ-31MR iHS E-PL1s 
ReleasedFebruary 2012November 2010Newer by 14 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 E-PL1s SZ-31MR iHS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1s enjoys outer measurements 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-31MR iHS has specifications of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1s versus Olympus SZ-31MR iHS in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1s compared to the SZ-31MR iHS.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and SZ-31MR iHS is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to see the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by viewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1s and SZ-31MR iHS.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will result in greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
34
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
provides face detection focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography highlights
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography highlights
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features touch focus
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery (290 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
44
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography highlights
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography highlights
52
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
bad battery (290 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
features touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography factors
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography factors
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery (290 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone socket
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic support
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sOlympus SZ-31MR iHS
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-11-16 2012-02-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Dual TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1700s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 9.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 lbs) 226g (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos 200 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $599 $0