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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS1 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ6
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic ZS1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the ZS1 (10MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and ZS1 (1/2.5") have different sensor size.

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The E-PL1s was released 19 months after the ZS1 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-PL1s grades against the ZS1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic ZS1

 E-PL1s ZS1 
ReleasedNovember 2010May 2009Newer by 19 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 ZS1 E-PL1s 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS1

 E-PL1s ZS1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal display size
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s has outer 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) and the Panasonic ZS1 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic ZS1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL1s vs the ZS1.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and ZS1 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing technical specs. The picture here should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1s and ZS1.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL1s will show more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more recent E-PL1s provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
25
provides face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography info
Panasonic ZS1 Street photography info
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Sports photography camera
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery power (290 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography advice
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
63
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS1
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging factors
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
lighter than competitors in class (229g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-11-16 2009-05-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
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 area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 6.3
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 data 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 229 grams (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $599 $0