Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FS42
86 Imaging
47 Features
43 Overall
45
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95 Imaging
33 Features
10 Overall
23
Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs
(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
- Released November 2010
- Replaced the Olympus E-PL1
- Renewed by Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 1000 (Bump to 6400)
- 640 x 480 video
- 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
- 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
- Revealed April 2009
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FS42 Overview
Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic FS42, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is relatively close but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and FS42 (1/2.5") boast totally different sensor measurements.
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The E-PL1s was introduced 20 months after the FS42 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.
Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PL1s scores against the FS42 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FS42 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL1s & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL1s Gallery & Panasonic FS42 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic FS42
E-PL1s | FS42 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | November 2010 | ![]() | April 2009 | Newer by 20 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | More precise focus | ||
Screen dimensions | 2.7" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.2") |
Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus E-PL1s
FS42 | E-PL1s |
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Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic FS42
E-PL1s | FS42 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Equal screen resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither features selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Neither features Touch friendly screen |
Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s enjoys outside dimensions 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 FS42 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).
Check out the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic FS42 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL1s versus the FS42.
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Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and FS42 is 86 and 95 respectively.
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions only by researching a spec sheet. The image underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and FS42.
As you can see, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s having a bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-PL1s will provide you with extra detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The fresher E-PL1s is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL1s | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Olympus | Panasonic |
Model | Olympus PEN E-PL1s | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 |
Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Ultracompact |
Released | 2010-11-16 | 2009-04-17 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Ultracompact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Truepic V | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.5" |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 5.744 x 4.308mm |
Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 24.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 3648 x 2736 |
Maximum native ISO | 6400 | 1000 |
Maximum enhanced ISO | - | 6400 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 80 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 33-132mm (4.0x) |
Highest aperture | - | f/2.8-5.9 |
Macro focus distance | - | 5cm |
Number of lenses | 107 | - |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 6.3 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen size | 2.7 inches | 2.5 inches |
Screen resolution | 230k dot | 230k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Screen tech | HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic (optional) | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60s | 60s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000s | 1/2000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 3.0fps | 2.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 10.00 m | 6.30 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 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) | 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | 640x480 |
Video format | Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 334g (0.74 pounds) | 132g (0.29 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") | 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") |
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 pictures | - |
Form of battery | Battery Pack | - |
Battery model | BLS-1 | - |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC | SD/SDHC card, Internal |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Launch pricing | $599 | $580 |