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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released November 2010
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL2
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-S1
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1s was announced 5 years prior to the K-S2 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL1s scores against the K-S2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Pentax K-S2

 E-PL1s K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 K-S2 E-PL1s 
LaunchedFebruary 2015November 2010More modern by 51 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax K-S2

 E-PL1s K-S2 
Manual focus More exact focus
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1s comes with physical dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Pentax K-S2 has dimensions of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") having a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL1s versus the K-S2.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and K-S2 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizes only by looking at specs. The pic underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and K-S2.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1s using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will resolve more detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
78
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography features
Pentax K-S2 Street photography features
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
72
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
good high ISO (51,200)
more heavy than average in class (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography advice
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
terrible battery (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
70
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames per second)
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography details
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography details
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (290 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
65
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
bad battery pack (410 CIPA)
more heavy than average in class (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S2
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (290 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
77
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
bad battery pack (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1s
Vlogging with Pentax K-S2
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic support
71
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (678g)
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPentax K-S2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Pentax K-S2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-11-16 2015-02-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 678 grams (1.49 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
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 410 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $599 $581