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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Introduced November 2010
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-PL1s versus Pentax RS1500, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1s was unveiled 4 months before the RS1500 so they are of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-PL1s matches up against the RS1500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Pentax RS1500

 E-PL1s RS1500 

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 RS1500 E-PL1s 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax RS1500

 E-PL1s RS1500 
LaunchedNovember 2010March 2011Same age
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s comes with exterior dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Pentax RS1500 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1s versus Pentax RS1500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL1s against the RS1500.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and RS1500 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing technical specs. The picture here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1s and RS1500.

As you can tell, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s using its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Pentax RS1500 will provide you with more detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots far more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
35
you can focus manually
MP count decent (14MP)
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Street photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
54
environment sealing
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography info
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography info
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
37
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography details
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography details
51
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (290 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
67
environment sealing
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography details
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography details
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (290 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
40
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging features
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging features
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Pentax Optio RS1500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-11-16 2011-03-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 157 grams (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 260 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $599 $150