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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL2
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Released July 2013
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-PL1s versus Pentax MX-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") have different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1s was manufactured 3 years earlier than the MX-1 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-PL1s grades against the MX-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Pentax MX-1

 E-PL1s MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 MX-1 E-PL1s 
ReleasedJuly 2013November 2010More modern by 31 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax MX-1

 E-PL1s MX-1 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1s provides external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1s versus Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL1s compared to the MX-1.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and MX-1 is 86 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The picture here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and MX-1.

As you can tell, both cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor sizes. The E-PL1s includes the bigger sensor which is going to make getting bokeh less difficult. The more aged E-PL1s is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
42
manual focus
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Street photography highlights
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
65
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery (290 CIPA)
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography highlights
52
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
61
great battery (290 per charge)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (391g)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
55
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
great battery (290 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1s
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
does not posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
33
decently wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic port
heavier than competition (391 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPentax MX-1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Pentax MX-1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-11-16 2013-07-01
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 334g (0.74 pounds) 391g (0.86 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 290 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $599 $400