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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS50 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS50, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the ZS50 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and ZS50 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1s was revealed 5 years earlier than the ZS50 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the E-PL1s grades against the ZS50 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic ZS50

 E-PL1s ZS50 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 ZS50 E-PL1s 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015November 2010More modern by 50 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS50

 E-PL1s ZS50 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1s comes with outer dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS50 has dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS50 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1s against the ZS50.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and ZS50 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes purely by seeing specifications. The pic underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and ZS50.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide the same MP but not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL1s has the larger sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF less difficult. The more aged E-PL1s will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
42
has manual focus
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Street photography camera
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
68
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (243 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Sports photography camera
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
43
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS50
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (290 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
66
lighter than others in class (243g)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Landscape photography camera
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
51
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging info
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone port
34
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (243g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-11-16 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 334 grams (0.74 lb) 243 grams (0.54 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 44
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 138
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 300 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $599 $350