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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Announced November 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1s was manufactured 19 months earlier than the ZS15 which makes them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-PL1s scores against the ZS15 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-PL1s ZS15 
Manual focus More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 ZS15 E-PL1s 
AnnouncedJune 2012November 2010More modern by 19 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS15

 E-PL1s ZS15 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1s provides external 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) and the Panasonic ZS15 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1s against the ZS15.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and ZS15 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to see the difference in sensor sizes only by seeing a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1s and ZS15.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide the same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL1s comes with the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier. The more aged E-PL1s will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography info
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
21
no manual focus
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography details
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (208g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Sports photography camera
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery power (290 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
36
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (260 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS15
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (290 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
lighter than competition in class (208g)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (260 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography details
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
37
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
bad battery pack (260 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging features
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
33
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (208g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-11-16 2012-06-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
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 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 208 grams (0.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 260 images
Battery style Battery Pack 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/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $599 $279