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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5S

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S front
Portability
62
Imaging
50
Features
82
Overall
62

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5S 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic GH5S
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 660g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Introduced January 2018
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5S Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic GH5S, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the GH5S (10MP) is pretty similar and both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1s was launched 8 years prior to the GH5S which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH5S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-PL1s matches up against the GH5S with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic GH5S

 E-PL1s GH5S 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5S over the Olympus E-PL1s

 GH5S E-PL1s 
IntroducedJanuary 2018November 2010More modern by 87 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1620k230kClearer screen (+1390k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic GH5S

 E-PL1s GH5S 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5S Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1s comes with outside 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) whilst the Panasonic GH5S has dimensions of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic GH5S in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL1s vs the GH5S.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5S size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and GH5S is 86 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5S top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5S Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The picture below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1s and GH5S.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Olympus E-PL1s to offer more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5S sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5S Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GH5S as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
62
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography factors
Panasonic GH5S Street photography factors
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
68
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
weather proofing
good high ISO (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GH5S as a Sports photography camera
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
56
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Travel photography with Panasonic GH5S
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (290 shots)
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
61
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
offers focus by touch
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Landscape photography with Panasonic GH5S
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (290 shots)
no Timelapse recording
63
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3.2")
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging highlights
Panasonic GH5S Vlogging highlights
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
does not have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
68
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
includes face detect focusing
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic jack
lack of image stabilization
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic GH5S
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DC-GH5S
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2010-11-16 2018-01-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Venus Engine 10
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 3680 x 2760
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 225
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,620 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,680 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.76x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 4096x2160
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334g (0.74 lb) 660g (1.46 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4")
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 images 440 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 DMW-BLF19
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/3 images)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-II V60 cards supported)
Storage slots 1 Two
Price at release $599 $2,498