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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-870 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
  • Launched November 2010
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL2
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Older Model is Olympus TG-860
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL1s versus Olympus TG-870, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact and both are created by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and TG-870 (16MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and TG-870 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1s was introduced 6 years prior to the TG-870 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PL1s scores versus the TG-870 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus TG-870

 E-PL1s TG-870 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 TG-870 E-PL1s 
LaunchedJanuary 2016November 2010Fresher by 62 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus TG-870

 E-PL1s TG-870 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1s has external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Olympus TG-870 has measurements of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1s versus Olympus TG-870 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL1s against the TG-870.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and TG-870 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching technical specs. The photograph below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and TG-870.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1s having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus TG-870 will result in extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older E-PL1s will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-870
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
36
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Street photography highlights
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than average in class (221g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography info
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography info
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
51
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery life (300 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography factors
Olympus TG-870 Travel photography factors
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (290 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
better than average battery life (300 per charge)
environment proof
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (21mm)
more heavy than average in class (221 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-870
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (290 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
50
relatively wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
environment proof
better than average battery life (300 shots)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging details
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging details
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
32
relatively wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing microphone support
more heavy than average in class (221 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sOlympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2010-11-16 2016-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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 lbs) 221 gr (0.49 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
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 pictures 300 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $599 $280