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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1 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
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX1
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

The following is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the ZR1 (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and ZR1 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL1s was manufactured 16 months after the ZR1 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-PL1s scores versus the ZR1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic ZR1

 E-PL1s ZR1 
RevealedNovember 2010July 2009Newer by 16 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 ZR1 E-PL1s 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZR1

 E-PL1s ZR1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display size
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s provides external measurements 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 ZR1 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1s against the ZR1.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and ZR1 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specifications. The picture here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1s and ZR1.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have got the exact same resolution but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s comes with the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier. The newer E-PL1s will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZR1
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
21
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZR1 Street photography highlights
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography info
Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography info
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography factors
51
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
57
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography factors
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
32
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging factors
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
does not have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
28
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-11-16 2009-07-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Venus Engine V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias 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 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 5.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334g (0.74 lbs) 158g (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $599 $280