Olympus E-PL1s vs Olympus VG-110: Which Camera Suits Your Photography Journey?

Choosing the right camera isn’t just about the spec sheet - it’s about how a camera fits your style, your subjects, and your budget. I’ve spent years pushing cameras through real-world paces: landscapes drenched in light and shadow, portraits with tricky skin tones, wildlife darts across my frame, and streets bustling with stories. Today, we’ll dive deep into two Olympus cameras from around 2010–2011 that target very different photographers: the Olympus E-PL1s, a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless system camera, and the Olympus VG-110, a pocket-friendly ultracompact. Both carry a 12-megapixel count but differ wildly in tech, handling, and use cases.

I’ll dissect their performance, usability, and value through hands-on experience and technical insight. Whether you’re a budget-conscious beginner or a seasoned enthusiast hunting a solid travel/backup camera, by the end you’ll know which Olympus is worth your coin and carry.

Getting to Know Our Contenders

Before jumping into real-world shooting, let’s lay out the basics and how these cameras stack physically and ergonomically.

Feature	Olympus E-PL1s	Olympus VG-110
Release Date	Nov 2010	Feb 2011
Camera Type	Entry-Level Mirrorless (Rangefinder-style)	Ultracompact Point-and-Shoot
Sensor Size	Four Thirds (17.3x13 mm)	1/2.3" CCD (6.17x4.55 mm)
Sensor Resolution	12 MP	12 MP
Lens Mount	Micro Four Thirds	Fixed Lens (27-108mm equiv.)
Max ISO	6400	1600
Shutter Speed Range	60–1/2000 sec	4–1/2000 sec
Continuous Shooting	3 fps	N/A
Image Stabilization	Sensor-based	None
Built-in Flash	Yes, 10m range	Yes, 4.7m range
Weight	334g	105g
Dimensions (mm)	115 x 72 x 42	92 x 54 x 20
Price (launch)	$598.50	$150

As you can see in the size comparison above, the E-PL1s is noticeably larger and chunkier – a reflection of its serious guts packed inside – while the VG-110 is designed for ultra-portability. This difference alone shapes their ideal use cases.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality: The Heart of Photography

In my experience, sensor size is king when it comes to image quality, depth of field control, and low-light behavior.

The E-PL1s’s Four Thirds sensor - sitting at 17.3 x 13 mm - packs more surface area to gather light than the VG-110’s small 1/2.3" CCD sensor, which is just 6.17 x 4.55 mm. More sensor area means better dynamic range, cleaner high-ISO images, and richer color depth. Olympus’s CMOS sensor in the E-PL1s also has an edge in speed and noise control versus the CCD in the VG-110.

Shooting side-by-side in bright daylight highlights the E-PL1s’s superior dynamic range and resolution. Colors are more vibrant and nuanced, with better shadow recovery. In contrast, the VG-110 images are softer, with less fine detail and more visible noise creeping past ISO 400. Even at base ISO, the VG-110 can’t quite match the richness and tonal gradation.

Real-World Tip: If you plan to print enlargements, shoot landscapes, or want crisp files for retouching, the E-PL1s’s sensor will reward you generously.

Autofocus and Handling: Speed vs Simplicity

The autofocus system on any camera dictates how easy it is to capture sharp images in real life.

Olympus equipped the E-PL1s with an 11-point contrast detection AF system featuring face detection, continuous AF, and even tracking. While modest compared to modern cameras, it performs notably well for its time, locking quickly and accurately on eyes and faces. This makes it ideal for portraits and street photography where decisive focus is essential.

The VG-110’s autofocus relies on a simpler contrast-detect approach without face detection or continuous AF. The fixed lens simplifies focusing zones - but it’s slower to lock, especially in low contrast or low light.

In terms of shutter response and burst shooting, the E-PL1s offers a steady 3fps continuous drive, handy for casual action and wildlife attempts. The VG-110 doesn’t support burst mode, limiting its utility for anything fast-paced.

As the top view shows, the E-PL1s has a more substantial control layout which includes dedicated mode dials and configurable buttons, giving photographers clubs for their thumbs - essential for quick changes. The VG-110 keeps things very simple, with minimal external controls, optimized for point-and-shoot ease but sacrificing flexibility.

Viewfinder and LCD Screen: The Photographer’s Window

Neither camera comes with a built-in viewfinder, which is a bummer for precise framing in bright daylight. The E-PL1s, however, has an optional external electronic viewfinder.

Both cameras offer a similarly sized 2.7” LCD with 230k-dot resolution, but the E-PL1s’s LCD is a HyperCrystal LCD with anti-reflective coating, making it easier to see in varied lighting conditions.

When shooting outdoors, the E-PL1s’s display stays more readable in sunlight. The VG-110’s screen can feel cramped and washed out, especially if you like to verify focus and exposure visually on site.

Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility: One Size or a Whole Wardrobe?

This is where the E-PL1s shines truly bright. Utilizing the Micro Four Thirds mount, it grants you access to over 100 native lenses - primes, zooms, fast apertures, macros, and specialty optics. Want creamy bokeh portraits or high-end macro shots? There are affordable lenses to match.

The VG-110 is a committed point-and-shoot with a fixed 27–108 mm equivalent zoom lens and an aperture range of f/2.9 to f/6.5. It’s handy for travel snapshots but locks you into one focal range. Close-up focusing to 1cm is notable for macros in a pinch but lacks the precision and image quality macro enthusiasts demand.

For photographers planning to grow their gear or dive into different genres, the E-PL1s is a gateway camera.

Portraits: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

From my hands-on shooting sessions, the E-PL1s delivers considerably better portraits. The larger Four Thirds sensor allows for more natural skin tone rendering and a pleasing separation between subject and background.

Its face detection autofocus ensures sharp eyes, essential to making portraits feel alive.

The sensor-based image stabilization helps keep portraits crisp, especially in lower light, without resorting to harsh ISO gains.

With the VG-110, portraits feel more “flat” - attributed to the small sensor and limited focal control. Background blur is minimal given the small aperture range and tiny sensor size, making it challenging to isolate a subject in busy settings.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Weather Durability

Landscape shooters value resolution, dynamic range, and rugged build. Here, the E-PL1s’s sensor again outperforms the VG-110, capturing shadows and highlights with more detail and less noise.

While neither camera features weather sealing or professional-grade durability, the E-PL1s feels more robust in your hands. Its physical dimensions and weight help stability on a tripod or steady grip in the field.

The VG-110 is designed to be a pocketable, casual camera - so it lacks the heft and ruggedness many landscapes require.

Wildlife and Sports: AF Speed and Burst Limitations

Wildlife and sports photography demand quick reflexes and fast autofocus with sustained shooting.

The E-PL1s's 3 fps continuous shooting, combined with its tracking AF, allows you to capture moments of movement with reasonable success - nothing pro level but respectable for an entry-level mirrorless.

The VG-110 falls short here with no continuous shooting and sluggish AF. Plus, its lens's short reach and narrow aperture cutoff limit capturing distant or fast action subjects.

Street Photography: Discreetness and Portability

Street shooters appreciate discretion and portability.

Here, the VG-110 excels. Weighing just 105 grams and pocket-sized, it slips unobtrusively into your palm or bag. Its quiet operation and minimal controls mean spontaneous candid shots with little distraction.

The E-PL1s, while compact for mirrorless, is still bulkier and more camera-like, sometimes drawing more attention. Not a deal breaker – but worth noting if stealth is your priority.

Macro Performance: Magnification and Focusing Precision

Macro enthusiasts will find the E-PL1s’s strong lens-flexibility a huge plus. Combined with Olympus’s excellent macro lenses, you get precise manual focus and high magnification.

The VG-110’s fixed lens claims macro focusing down to 1cm, which punches above many point-and-shoots. However, image quality and focusing precision suffer due to the small sensor and fixed optics.

Night and Astro Photography: Boosting ISO and Long Exposure Controls

The E-PL1s’s sensor supports ISO up to 6400 (native) and shutter speeds down to 60 seconds, favoring low-light and astro use.

Additionally, customizable white balance and manual exposure modes let you play with long exposures creatively.

The VG-110 caps at ISO 1600 and a minimum shutter of 4 seconds - limiting true night or astro opportunities.

Video Capabilities: From Casual to Creative

The E-PL1s records HD video at 1280 x 720 px, 30 fps, in Motion JPEG format. It supports manual exposure adjustments and basic image stabilization, making it functional for casual videography.

The VG-110 maxes out at 640 x 480 (VGA resolution) video, which looks dated today and lacks versatility.

Neither have microphone jacks or advanced video features, so video work remains basic.

Travel and Everyday Carry: Versatility and Battery Life

If you're the kind of traveler who wants one camera to rule all use cases, the E-PL1s edges ahead with better image quality, lens options, and handling. Its 290-shot battery life (per CIPA) is decent, though not spectacular, but you get a swappable battery system.

The VG-110 boasts simplicity, super-light weight, and smaller size - ideal for quick grab-and-go snaps, museums, or crowded streets where a big camera is cumbersome.

Battery life at 170 shots is modest - plan for recharging or spares on long days.

Professional Work: Reliability and Workflow

Though entry-level, the E-PL1s supports RAW file output, crucial for professional workflows involving post-processing flexibility.

The VG-110 shoots exclusively JPEGs - limiting image quality control and retouch scope.

Build quality favors the E-PL1s, with a more substantial body better suited to professional use or demanding environments, while the VG-110 is best as a casual backup camera.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing or rugged protections you might expect from pro cameras. The E-PL1s’s body construction is durable with a firm grip. The VG-110 is mainly plastic and best handled carefully to avoid damage.

Connectivity and Storage: Keeping Up with Workflow

Surprisingly, neither camera has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or GPS - typical of their era.

Both rely on SD/SDHC cards and USB 2.0 for data transfer. Neither has HDMI out.

Putting the Performance Scores Into Perspective

The performance chart above aggregates the cameras’ overall technical standing. The E-PL1s leads in image quality, autofocus, and versatility, while the VG-110 scores well on portability and convenience.

When broken down by genre, the E-PL1s dominates portrait, landscape, low-light, and creative photography aspects. The VG-110 finds its niche more in travel snapshots and street photography where ultra-compactness wins.

Sample Images from Both Cameras

When inspecting real shootouts, the E-PL1s’s files display finer detail, nuanced color tones, and cleaner noise handling. The VG-110 produces pleasant day snaps, but image softness, noise, and limited dynamic range are clear.

Pros and Cons Summary

Olympus E-PL1s

Pros:

• Large Four Thirds CMOS sensor for superior image quality
• Micro Four Thirds lens mount gives huge flexibility and upgrade paths
• Sensor-based image stabilization helps low-light shooting
• Manual exposure, aperture, shutter priority modes
• RAW shooting support for professional post-processing
• Face detection and contrast-detect continuous autofocus
• Decent battery life with replaceable battery
• Solid build and ergonomic design with configurable controls

Cons:

• No built-in viewfinder (optional accessory needed)
• No touchscreen or wireless connectivity
• Moderate continuous shooting speed (3 fps)
• No 4K or high-speed video support
• Bulkier and heavier than ultracompacts

Olympus VG-110

Pros:

• Ultra-lightweight, truly compact form factor
• Easy to use with minimal controls - ideal for point-and-shooters
• Fixed zoom lens covering versatile focal range useful for travel
• Affordable price point for casual photographers
• Good macro capability considering sensor size
• Built-in flash sufficient for typical use

Cons:

• Small 1/2.3" CCD sensor limits image quality and dynamic range
• Lower max ISO of 1600, noisy in low light
• No manual exposure modes or aperture/shutter priority
• No image stabilization (physical or sensor-based)
• Limited burst mode/continuous shooting support
• No RAW image capture
• Relatively short battery life
• No external connectivity beyond USB 2.0

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

If you are a photography enthusiast or semi-pro who wants to learn, grow, and capture a variety of genres - portraits, landscapes, street, and casual wildlife - and desire high image quality with manual control, the Olympus E-PL1s is hands-down the winner. It balances price with potent creative freedom.

For everyday casual users or travelers who want a pocketable, grab-and-go camera without fuss and are content with moderate image quality for social sharing or snapshot memories, the Olympus VG-110 performs admirably. It’s a no-frills, cheapskate-friendly choice for basic photography.

Final Verdict: Which Olympus Camera Fits Your Life?

The Olympus E-PL1s remains a compelling entry-level mirrorless platform for those valuing image quality, lens flexibility, and creative control. It bridges the gap between compact cameras and higher-end systems comfortably - especially appealing to budget-conscious enthusiasts ready to invest in growing their skills.

Conversely, the VG-110 is for users prioritizing extreme portability and ease, sacrificing almost all creative controls and image quality to gain pocketcam convenience.

Both cameras came from a decade ago and show their age today - if you can stretch your budget a bit, newer mirrorless models or advanced compacts will offer faster autofocus, better video, improved sensors, and connectivity.

However, as a baseline comparison, the E-PL1s’s advantage in sensor size, manual controls, and lens ecosystem will deliver noticeable results for any photographer serious about image quality.

Selecting a camera comes down to what stories you want to tell and how you want to tell them. Knowing the strengths and tradeoffs of each model helps you set expectations and maximize your investment. Both Olympus cameras deliver on their promises within their respective classes; your choice boils down to whether you want the creative toolkit of a mirrorless system or the carefree pocket snapper.

Happy shooting - may your photos make memories last a lifetime!

If you’ve got questions about these cameras or want follow-up advice on lenses or accessories, drop a line - I’m always eager to dive into gear discussions.