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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax VS20

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax VS20 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
  • Introduced November 2010
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL2
Pentax VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F3.1-4.8) lens
  • 235g - 111 x 61 x 38mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Following is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL1s versus Pentax VS20, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and VS20 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1s was unveiled 14 months before the VS20 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL1s grades vs the VS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Pentax VS20

 E-PL1s VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 VS20 E-PL1s 
RevealedJanuary 2012November 2010More modern by 14 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax VS20

 E-PL1s VS20 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1s features 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) whilst the Pentax VS20 has sizing of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL1s versus Pentax VS20 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL1s and the VS20.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and VS20 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes just by checking out specifications. The pic here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1s and VS20.

Plainly, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1s having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Pentax VS20 will show greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Portrait photography with Pentax VS20
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
36
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography factors
Pentax VS20 Street photography factors
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography features
Pentax VS20 Sports photography features
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
44
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Travel photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition (235g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography features
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography features
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
47
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Vlogging camera
Pentax VS20 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic port
30
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (235 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax VS20
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPentax Optio VS20
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Pentax Optio VS20
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-11-16 2012-01-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lb) 235 gr (0.52 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $599 $106