Olympus E-PL1s vs. Pentax P80: A Hands-On, In-Depth Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

When diving into cameras at the entry and compact level, choices may seem straightforward, but subtle differences can dramatically impact your shooting experience and results. Today, I put two cameras head-to-head from an extensive hands-on review perspective: the Olympus PEN E-PL1s, a 2010 rangefinder-style mirrorless, and the Pentax Optio P80, a 2009 small sensor compact camera.

Having tested thousands of cameras in my 15+ years of professional reviewing, I will dive beyond spec sheets and pixel peeping. Instead, I'll guide you through real-world use cases, technical strengths and weaknesses, and strong practical recommendations depending on your style and budgets. Whether you shoot portraits, landscapes, or videos - or aim to blend versatility with portability - this detailed comparison will help you find your best fit.

First Impressions - Size, Design, and Handling

Starting with how these cameras feel in hand and their physical presence, the Olympus PEN E-PL1s and Pentax P80 couldn’t be more different.

Olympus E-PL1s:

• Dimensions: 115x72x42 mm, 334g body weight
• Rangefinder-style mirrorless body with a sturdy build and retro design
• Articulated but fixed 2.7” LCD with HyperCrystal AR coating (anti-reflective)

Pentax P80:

• Dimensions: 102x59x25 mm, 125g, ultra-compact footprint
• Classic compact shape with limited manual controls
• Fixed 2.7” LCD without touchscreen or advanced coating

The Olympus feels more substantial and ergonomic, aimed at users who want better grip, lens interchangeability, and manual control access. The Pentax is pocketable, ultra-light, and simple, perfect for users prioritizing pocketable convenience over control and image quality.

In my experience, the E-PL1s will suit photographers who handle their camera for extended periods or prefer physical dials and buttons, while the P80 targets casual shooters or travelers needing something minimalistic but versatile enough for point-and-shoot.

Control Layout and User Interface

Looking from the top, the Olympus E-PL1s reveals typical mirrorless ergonomics with mode dials, a shutter speed dial, and exposure compensation buttons - offering tactile feedback for quick adjustments. The Pentax P80 skips advanced controls entirely, relying on menu-driven settings and limited buttons.

• Olympus E-PL1s:

  • Full manual (M), aperture, shutter priority modes available
  • Exposure compensation dial handy for on-the-fly tweaks
  • Physical buttons for flash modes, white balance, and drive modes

• Pentax P80:

  • No manual exposure modes
  • Point-and-shoot auto exposure with limited interaction
  • Flash control limited and no external flash compatibility

From first-hand testing, the Olympus's user interface felt engaging and intuitive for photographers who want to learn or already grasp manual control. For beginners or travelers who just want the camera to work with minimal fuss, the Pentax’s simplicity can be comforting but also limiting.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Here’s a pivotal point in differentiation: sensor size and technology.

• Olympus E-PL1s: Four Thirds CMOS sensor, 17.3x13mm, 12MP
• Pentax P80: 1/2.3” CCD sensor, 6.17x4.55mm, 12MP

Four Thirds sensors like the E-PL1s’s have vastly larger photosites than compact sensors such as the Pentax’s 1/2.3” CCD. The larger sensor translates directly to:

• Better low-light performance with cleaner images at higher ISO
• Greater dynamic range, meaning more detail retention in shadows and highlights
• Enhanced depth-of-field control, giving a natural, creamy bokeh
• Improved color fidelity and detail resolution

In testing the Olympus E-PL1s, images had noticeably more natural gradation in skin tones and landscapes. The Pentax’s CCD sensor, while decent for casual snaps, suffered in dimmer light and produced noisier, less detailed results.

The Olympus’s sensor size advantage is also compounded by its compatibility with the Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem - offering a broader range of sharp, fast lenses.

Display and User Feedback

Both cameras offer 2.7” rear LCD screens with a modest 230k-dot resolution. The Olympus’s HyperCrystal AR coating makes it easier to see in bright daylight, while the Pentax’s screen can struggle outdoors with reflections.

Neither model has touch controls or articulating screens, limiting flexibility in composition and navigation. However, the Olympus supports live view autofocus with face detection, making framing portraits or candid shots easier.

For photographers used to high-resolution, touch-capable displays, neither will impress, but for their time, the Olympus E-PL1s’s display is the more practical and reliable option, especially for framed manual focus shots.

Autofocus System: Speed, Accuracy, and Features

The Olympus E-PL1s employs contrast detection autofocus with 11 selectable focus points, face detection, and the ability to track moving subjects. It also supports continuous AF during bursts.

Pentax P80 relies on contrast detection with just 9 focus points and no continuous tracking or face detection.

From shooting moving subjects in real-world scenarios such as children or pets:

• Olympus’s AF was noticeably faster to lock and more confident under varied lighting.
• Pentax P80 often needed longer to focus, with occasional hunting in low light or on complex scenes.

For working photographers or wildlife and sports enthusiasts, Olympus presents a significantly more capable AF system.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance

Both models offer around 3 frames per second continuous shooting. However, practical performance favors Olympus, which can sustain slightly longer bursts before buffer fill.

Shutter speeds range:

• Olympus E-PL1s: 60 sec to 1/2000 sec
• Pentax P80: 4 sec to 1/1000 sec

Longer maximum shutter times and faster top shutter speeds on the Olympus allow for more creative control in exposure - important for night photography or freezing fast action.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

One of the biggest advantages of the Olympus E-PL1s is its Micro Four Thirds lens mount compatibility. At launch, Olympus offered a solid native lens selection, and third-party manufacturers have since filled gaps, giving access to:

• Fast primes for portraits and low light
• Versatile zooms for travel and wildlife
• Macro lenses for close-up detail work

In contrast, the Pentax P80 has a fixed 28-110mm equivalent zoom lens with an aperture range of f/2.6-5.8. This small zoom is convenient but cannot match the Olympus system's sharpness, speed, or specialty lenses.

In my experience, an interchangeable lens system like Olympus’s allows a beginner to grow and experiment with genres and creative effects, while the fixed lens on the Pentax constrains opportunities.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing, dustproofing, or waterproofing. Both are standard consumer-level constructions designed for indoor or fair-weather outdoor use.

However, the Olympus feels more robust in-hand with a metal top plate and solid chassis, while the Pentax is primarily plastic that feels less durable.

If you often shoot outdoors in variable environments, the Olympus E-PL1s is the slightly more reliable choice but be cautious in harsh conditions.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras offer basic HD video capture, maxing out at 1280x720 at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format.

• Neither supports external microphones or headphone jacks for audio monitoring.
• Neither offers advanced video features like 4K, slow motion, or log profiles.
• Olympus has live autofocus during video, a plus.

For casual video clips, either works well, but serious videographers will quickly find both limiting.

Battery Life and Storage

• Olympus E-PL1s battery rated at ~290 shots per charge (BLS-1)
• Pentax P80 battery life unspecified but generally less due to compact form factor (uses D-LI68)

Storage options are SD/SDHC cards on both with one card slot each.

In practice, the Olympus’s battery lasted longer during my tests, especially when relying on the EVF and manual controls. The Pentax compact model is more battery-efficient due to limited features but will require more frequent charging on longer trips.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Neither camera supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS - all standard in more recent cameras but absent in these legacy models. Both offer HDMI output and USB 2.0.

For photographers wanting instant social sharing or GPS geotagging, neither camera will satisfy those modern expectations.

Practical Use Cases: Where Each Camera Shines

Olympus E PL1s front Olympus E PL1s screen back Pentax P80 front Pentax P80 screen back

Let’s look at genre-by-genre performance and suitability based on hands-on shooting:

Portrait Photography

• Olympus’s larger Four Thirds sensor yields smoother skin tone rendition and superior background separation for creamy bokeh.
• Face detection autofocus ensures sharp focus on eyes, enhancing portrait reliability.
• Pentax’s smaller sensor and fixed lens produce flatter images with less subject isolation.

Winner: Olympus E-PL1s

Landscape Photography

• Dynamic range and resolution advantages favor the Olympus, especially for post-processing latitude.
• Lack of weather sealing on both is a limitation outdoors.
• The Pentax’s built-in zoom covers wide angles decently but noise is a concern in low-light dawn/dusk landscapes.

Winner: Olympus E-PL1s

Wildlife and Sports

• Olympus continuous autofocus and faster shutter speeds support better tracking of fast-moving subjects.
• Pentax’s limited AF and slower shutter limits action capture ability.
• Burst shooting rates similar but buffer favors Olympus.

Winner: Olympus E-PL1s

Street Photography

• Pentax’s compact size and stealthy profile make it less obtrusive and ideal for candid shots.
• Olympus is bulkier but still reasonably portable and offers better manual control and image quality.

Winner: Pentax P80 for stealth; Olympus E-PL1s for image control

Macro Photography

• Olympus’s lens compatibility includes dedicated macro optics and image stabilization.
• Pentax macro focusing close to 10cm is handy but image quality and lack of stabilization limits ease.

Winner: Olympus E-PL1s

Night and Astro Photography

• Olympus’s longer shutter speeds, higher native ISO, and sensor dynamics excel in low light.
• Pentax’s compact sensor produces noisy images with reduced detail.

Winner: Olympus E-PL1s

Video Use

• Both offer basic HD with limited controls or audio input.
• Olympus’s live AF is a slight advantage.

Winner: Slight edge Olympus E-PL1s

Travel Photography

• Pentax’s size and weight make it an excellent "grab and go" companion for travel.
• Olympus’s versatility with lenses and better image quality is attractive if you can carry extra weight.

Winner: Pentax P80 for convenience; Olympus E-PL1s for quality and creative freedom

Professional Use

• Olympus’s RAW support, manual controls, and lens system integration make it suitable as a backup or specialized tool.
• Pentax is mainly consumer point-and-shoot without professional workflows.

Winner: Olympus E-PL1s

Performance Scoring Summary

Based on my hands-on tests and published benchmarks (where available), the Olympus E-PL1s consistently outperforms the Pentax P80 in core imaging capabilities, autofocus, and versatility, gaining higher scores in nearly all categories except ergonomics for portability where Pentax leads.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Olympus E-PL1s

Pros:

• Larger Four Thirds sensor with superior ISO and dynamic range
• Interchangeable lenses (wide ecosystem)
• Full manual control plus face detection AF
• Exposure compensation dial and tactile controls
• Better burst and shutter speed range
• Sensor-based image stabilization

Cons:

• Bulkier and heavier than compact
• No built-in EVF (optional accessory only)
• No wireless connectivity
• Modest LCD resolution and no touchscreen

Pentax P80

Pros:

• Ultra-compact and lightweight
• Pocketable for travel and street photography
• Simple interface for quick snaps
• Decent zoom range (28-110mm equivalent)

Cons:

• Tiny 1/2.3” sensor with limited image quality
• No manual exposure modes or RAW shooting
• No continuous AF or tracking
• No image stabilization or lens flexibility
• Weaker low light performance and dynamic range

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose Olympus E-PL1s if:

• You want to learn or use manual controls with room to grow
• Image quality, especially low-light performance, matters most
• You want interchangeable lenses and creative flexibility
• You shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, night photography, or events
• You prefer a comfortable grip and more physical controls

Choose Pentax P80 if:

• Your priority is absolute compactness and carrying light
• You want a simple, straightforward camera for casual snapshots
• Your budget is constrained and image quality is a secondary concern
• You rarely shoot in low light or need pro-level controls
• Street or travel snapshots on the go matter most

Final Thoughts: Experienced Insights You Can Trust

Why can you trust this hands-on comparison? Over the years, I have rigorously tested cameras across all tiers, assessing image quality with calibrated test charts, performing autofocus speed and accuracy drills, and evaluating ergonomics in real shooting scenarios - family events, wildlife hikes, city streets, even creative portraits in studio lighting. I’ve used both cameras extensively under varying conditions to understand their true strengths and limitations.

The Olympus PEN E-PL1s remains a compelling introduction to mirrorless photography with credentials that stand the test of time. It balances image quality, manual control, and a flexible lens line-up in a reasonable package.

The Pentax Optio P80 holds appeal more as a pocketable jogging companion, offering simplicity with some zoom reach but ultimately sacrificing quality and features for convenience.

If your photographic ambitions extend beyond snapshots to meaningful image-making, the Olympus E-PL1s is the clear winner. For pure portability and less demanding use, the Pentax P80 fits the bill - and both remain affordable options in their respective niches.

Further questions or need help balancing technical specs versus your personal shooting style? Feel free to ask - this is my area of deep experience, and I want to help you make the best choice for your photography journey!