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Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Samsung NX mini front
Portability
93
Imaging
52
Features
68
Overall
58

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini 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
  • Revealed November 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
Samsung NX mini
(Full Review)
  • 20.5MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • 1/16000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX-M Mount
  • 196g - 110 x 62 x 23mm
  • Launched March 2014
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Olympus and Samsung. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and NX mini (20.5MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and NX mini (1") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1s was introduced 4 years earlier than the NX mini and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-PL1s matches up vs the NX mini with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Samsung NX mini

 E-PL1s NX mini 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX mini over the Olympus E-PL1s

 NX mini E-PL1s 
LaunchedMarch 2014November 2010Fresher by 40 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Samsung NX mini

 E-PL1s NX mini 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1s provides outside dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Samsung NX mini has sizing of 110mm x 62mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 196 grams (0.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-PL1s against the NX mini.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and NX mini is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing just by going over specifications. The visual here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and NX mini.

To sum up, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1s using its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF easier and the Samsung NX mini will offer extra detail using its extra 8.5 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL1s is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung NX mini as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (20.5MP)
decent sensor size (1")
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography features
Samsung NX mini Street photography features
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
81
screen tilts
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
provides focus via touch
lighter than competitors in class (196g)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX mini as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery power (290 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
54
high shutter speed (1/16,000s)
resolution is good (20.5MP)
decent sensor size (1")
good battery life (650 per charge)
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography factors
Samsung NX mini Travel photography factors
52
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (290 shots)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
76
good battery life (650 per charge)
lighter than competitors in class (196 grams)
provides focus via touch
resolution is good (20.5MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography features
Samsung NX mini Landscape photography features
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
low MP (12MP)
bad battery power (290 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
68
has manual focus
switch lenses (Samsung NX-M mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
resolution is good (20.5 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
good battery life (650 CIPA)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging details
Samsung NX mini Vlogging details
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic socket
38
screen is touchscreen
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic support
lighter than competitors in class (196 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX mini Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Samsung NX mini
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sSamsung NX mini
General Information
Company Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Samsung NX mini
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2010-11-16 2014-03-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20.5MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 21
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX-M
Number of lenses 107 2
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT-LCD (180 degree tilt)
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Smart Flash, auto, auto + redeye reduction, fill-in, fill-in + redeye reduction, 1st curtain, 2nd curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 (all 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 lbs) 196 gr (0.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 110 x 62 x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9")
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 photographs 650 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 B740
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-30 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $599 $530