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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-4

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-4 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 TG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-3
  • Refreshed by Olympus TG-5
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-4 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL1s versus Olympus TG-4, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are offered by Olympus. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and TG-4 (16MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and TG-4 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1s was brought out 5 years earlier than the TG-4 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-PL1s scores versus the TG-4 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus TG-4

 E-PL1s TG-4 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 TG-4 E-PL1s 
IntroducedApril 2015November 2010Fresher by 53 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus TG-4

 E-PL1s TG-4 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-4 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1s enjoys exterior dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Olympus TG-4 has dimensions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1s versus Olympus TG-4 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL1s vs the TG-4.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-4 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and TG-4 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-4 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing only by checking specifications. The visual here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and TG-4.

To sum up, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1s due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus TG-4 will give you more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older E-PL1s is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-4 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography factors
Olympus TG-4 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
47
has manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Street photography with Olympus TG-4
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (247 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography highlights
Olympus TG-4 Sports photography highlights
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery life (290 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
great battery power (380 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography information
Olympus TG-4 Travel photography information
52
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
low battery life (290 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
74
great battery power (380 shots)
environment sealing
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than average (247g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-4
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery life (290 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
62
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
great battery power (380 shots)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging advice
Olympus TG-4 Vlogging advice
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
does not feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
34
pretty wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than average (247 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus TG-4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Olympus TG-4
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sOlympus Tough TG-4
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Olympus Tough TG-4
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2010-11-16 2015-04-13
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 7.90 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 247 grams (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 380 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots One One
Launch cost $599 $379