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Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX3000

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Samsung NX3000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
64
Features
62
Overall
63

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX3000 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
  • Released November 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL2
Samsung NX3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 230g - 117 x 66 x 39mm
  • Introduced May 2014
  • Older Model is Samsung NX2000
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX3000 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL1s versus Samsung NX3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Olympus and Samsung. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and NX3000 (20MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and NX3000 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1s was released 4 years prior to the NX3000 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-PL1s grades against the NX3000 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Samsung NX3000

 E-PL1s NX3000 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX3000 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 NX3000 E-PL1s 
IntroducedMay 2014November 2010Fresher by 42 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Samsung NX3000

 E-PL1s NX3000 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX3000 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s has got outer 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 Samsung NX3000 has proportions of 117mm x 66mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL1s versus Samsung NX3000 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1s compared to the NX3000.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX3000 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and NX3000 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX3000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX3000 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing only by checking out specifications. The visual here might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and NX3000.

To sum up, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1s due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Samsung NX3000 will show more detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older E-PL1s will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX3000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography highlights
Samsung NX3000 Portrait photography highlights
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
78
you can focus manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography info
Samsung NX3000 Street photography info
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
81
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (230g)
good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography info
Samsung NX3000 Sports photography info
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
57
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography highlights
Samsung NX3000 Travel photography highlights
52
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery life (290 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition (230g)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography details
Samsung NX3000 Landscape photography details
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging factors
Samsung NX3000 Vlogging factors
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone jack
34
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (230g)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Samsung NX3000
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sSamsung NX3000
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Samsung NX3000
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2010-11-16 2014-05-26
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 35
Cross type focus points - 1
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Amount of lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) no built-in flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
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) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lb) 230 grams (0.51 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 117 x 66 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 370 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 B740
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-30 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $599 $897