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Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500 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
  • Announced November 2010
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Previous Model is Samsung NX300
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500 Overview

The following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Olympus and Samsung. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and NX500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1s was manufactured 5 years earlier than the NX500 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-PL1s scores vs the NX500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Samsung NX500

 E-PL1s NX500 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 NX500 E-PL1s 
LaunchedFebruary 2015November 2010Newer by 51 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1036k230kSharper display (+806k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Samsung NX500

 E-PL1s NX500 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s has external measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX500 has proportions of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1s vs the NX500.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and NX500 is 86 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions purely by seeing specifications. The picture here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1s and NX500.

Plainly, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Samsung NX500 will show greater detail due to its extra 16 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Portrait photography with Samsung NX500
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
80
has manual focus
great MP (28 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Street photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
81
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography factors
Samsung NX500 Sports photography factors
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
low battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
75
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
great MP (28 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography info
Samsung NX500 Travel photography info
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery (290 shots)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
78
has bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
great MP (28 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography information
Samsung NX500 Landscape photography information
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low MP (12MP)
low battery (290 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
great MP (28 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no low pass filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1s
Vlogging with Samsung NX500
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack
34
screen is touchscreen
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Samsung NX500
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sSamsung NX500
General Information
Company Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Samsung NX500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-11-16 2015-02-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V DRIMe 5
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 28 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 6480 x 4320
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 209
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Amount of lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 1,036 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1280x720 4096x2160
Video format Motion JPEG H.265
Mic port
Headphone port
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 334g (0.74 lb) 287g (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 87
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.9
DXO Low light score not tested 1379
Other
Battery life 290 shots 370 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $599 $800