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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1 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
  • Introduced November 2010
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2011
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the S1 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL1s was introduced within a month of the S1 and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PL1s grades against the S1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic S1

 E-PL1s S1 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 S1 E-PL1s 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic S1

 E-PL1s S1 
IntroducedNovember 2010January 2011Same generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1s features exterior dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic S1 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL1s vs the S1.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and S1 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements just by going through specifications. The photograph underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1s and S1.

To sum up, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-PL1s comes with the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field simpler.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
21
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Street photography with Panasonic S1
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography features
Panasonic S1 Sports photography features
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
27
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography information
Panasonic S1 Travel photography information
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (290 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
lighter than competition (117g)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography details
Panasonic S1 Landscape photography details
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
32
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1s
Vlogging with Panasonic S1
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic jack
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic S1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-S1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-11-16 2011-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
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 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 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) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 pounds) 117g (0.26 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 240 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $599 $269