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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-01

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-01 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL2
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Announced May 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-01 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax K-01, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and K-01 (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The E-PL1s was unveiled 18 months earlier than the K-01 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL1s scores against the K-01 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Pentax K-01

 E-PL1s K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 K-01 E-PL1s 
AnnouncedMay 2012November 2010More recent by 18 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax K-01

 E-PL1s K-01 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1s enjoys external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Pentax K-01 has dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") along with a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax K-01 in the latest Camera and 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 select at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL1s and the K-01.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and K-01 is 86 and 76 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and K-01.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1s using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-01 will give more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The older E-PL1s is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography information
Pentax K-01 Portrait photography information
60
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Street photography with Pentax K-01
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
heavier than competition in class (561g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography information
Pentax K-01 Sports photography information
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (540 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
better than average battery pack (540 per charge)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography details
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography details
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (290 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (540 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging information
Pentax K-01 Vlogging information
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic jack
does not have selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax K-01
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPentax K-01
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Pentax K-01
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-11-16 2012-05-30
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
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 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 561 grams (1.24 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 1135
Other
Battery life 290 shots 540 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $599 $899