Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55: A Detailed Comparative Analysis for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right camera is a nuanced decision that hinges on understanding technical specifics, real-world performance, and ultimately how these align with your photographic ambitions. Today, we dissect two distinct cameras from the 2010 era: the Olympus PEN E-PL1s, an entry-level Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55, a small sensor compact camera with a versatile zoom lens. While these cameras target different segments, their overlapping price points and features invite a careful comparison - particularly for enthusiasts and professionals evaluating budget-friendly options for diverse photographic needs.

This analysis draws upon extensive hands-on testing methodologies, sensor and system evaluations, and real-world usage reporting accumulated over years of camera examination. Our goal is to provide you with an expert-driven, evidence-based comparison to guide your purchase decisions without marketing hype or superficial assessments.

Form Factor and Handling: Mirrorless vs. Compact Ergonomics

Olympus E-PL1s: Rangefinder-Style Mirrorless Design

The Olympus E-PL1s embraces a compact rangefinder-style mirrorless form factor with dimensions approximately 115 x 72 x 42 mm and a weight of 334 grams, including the battery. It benefits from a modular design allowing interchangeable lenses via the Micro Four Thirds mount - a significant advantage for versatile shooting scenarios. The grip is modest but palpable, making it comfortable for extended handheld sessions.

The physical controls on the E-PL1s are minimal but sensible for entry-level users, supporting fundamental manual exposure modes including shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual control. The fixed 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD screen, though lacking touch capability, has an anti-reflective coating that aids visibility in ambient light.

Sony DSC-H55: Ultra-Compact All-in-One Convenience

Sony’s DSC-H55, by contrast, features a more diminutive and streamlined compact body at 103 x 58 x 29 mm and weighs just 200 grams - substantially lighter and more pocketable. Its fixed 25-250mm equivalent zoom lens (F3.5–5.5 aperture) negates the need to carry additional glass but constrains optical flexibility.

The control scheme is intentionally simplified, lacking manual exposure modes or physical dials for nuanced settings adjustment. While this may appeal to casual users and travelers seeking ease of use, it restricts opportunities for creative exposure manipulation.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality Evaluation

Sensor Size and Implications

The sensor is the fulcrum upon which image quality pivots. The Olympus E-PL1s houses a 17.3 x 13 mm Four Thirds CMOS sensor with a 12-megapixel resolution. This sensor’s physical size measures 224.9 mm², providing significantly more surface area for light-gathering compared to smaller compact camera sensors.

In contrast, the Sony DSC-H55 is equipped with a much smaller 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD sensor with approximately 14 megapixels, offering only about 28.07 mm² of sensor area. This diminutive sensor size inherently limits dynamic range and low-light performance compared to larger-sensor counterparts.

Resolution and Detail Retention

Despite the Sony H55 sporting 14 megapixels versus Olympus’s 12, pixel count alone is not determinative of detail quality. The larger Four Thirds sensor on the E-PL1s enables each pixel to be physically larger, leading to better signal-to-noise ratio and finer detail retention.

In practical terms, the Olympus produces images with better tonal gradation and more natural textures, especially in scenes with complex subtlety, such as skin tones in portraiture or fine landscape foliage.

Low-Light Performance and ISO Sensitivity

The E-PL1s offers a native ISO range of 100-6400, facilitating improved performance under dim conditions. The sensor’s CMOS design and TruePic V image processor provide reasonable noise control up to ISO 1600, after which noise becomes increasingly apparent but remains usable for snapshots.

The Sony, however, reaches a maximum ISO of 3200 but suffers from higher noise levels at elevated sensitivities owing to its smaller CCD sensor. This constrains its low-light usability, particularly in indoor or atmospheric night photography.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Reliability

Olympus E-PL1s: Contrast-Detect AF with Face Detection

The E-PL1s employs an 11-point contrast-detection autofocus system with additional face detection capabilities. While the absence of phase-detection AF impacts tracking speed and continuous focus accuracy, the camera performs reasonably well for its generation in static subjects. It supports AF single, continuous, and tracking modes, albeit tracking can lag on rapid or erratic motion.

Furthermore, the camera supports face detection autofocus that aids portrait shooting by prioritizing eye regions, critical for sharp facial imagery.

Sony DSC-H55: Basic Contrast Detection AF with Center-Weighted AF Area

The Sony H55 uses a 9-point contrast-detection autofocus system with center-weighted focusing priority. Face detection is not supported, limiting its efficacy for portraits or dynamic subjects requiring accurate eye focus.

Continuous AF or tracking modes are absent, reducing its suitability for subjects in motion. Single AF suffices for controlled capture but may frustrate users attempting to photograph fast-moving scenes.

Lens Ecosystem and Optical Versatility

Olympus PEN E-PL1s: Interchangeable Micro Four Thirds Lenses

One of the strongest assets of the Olympus E-PL1s is its compatibility with the Micro Four Thirds lens mount, currently hosting an extensive lineup of over 100 lenses ranging from ultra-wide primes to super-telephoto zooms, including specialized macro optics. This opens access to lenses with wide apertures facilitating shallow depth of field, important for creative control especially in portrait and wildlife photography.

Sensor crop factor of 2.1x requires lens focal lengths to be multiplied accordingly to achieve full-frame equivalent perspectives, but this is well-documented and predictable.

Sony DSC-H55: Integrated 10x Zoom Lens

By design, the Sony H55 incorporates a fixed 25-250 mm (10x zoom equivalent) lens with variable aperture from f/3.5 at wide to f/5.5 at telephoto. While this grants notable reach for a compact camera and macro focusing down to 5 cm, the aperture constrains low-light and depth-of-field control.

Lack of lens interchangeability limits use cases for photographers who desire specialized optics for portrait bokeh, macro details, or expansive landscapes.

Display and Viewfinder Capabilities

The Olympus E-PL1s is equipped with a 2.7-inch fixed LCD of 230k-dot resolution with anti-reflective HyperCrystal technology, which improves visibility even under strong daylight, albeit at a modest resolution by modern standards. However, no touchscreen or articulated screen is provided, limiting creative shooting angles.

The Sony H55 offers a slightly larger 3-inch 230k-dot fixed screen, bright and crisp but lacking touch interface or tilt/swivel articulation. Neither camera includes a built-in electronic viewfinder, compelling reliance on LCD framing which can be challenging in bright outdoor environments.

Continuous Shooting and Buffer Performance

• Olympus E-PL1s supports 3.0 fps continuous shooting, sufficient for casual bursts but limited for fast burst-dependent genres like sports or wildlife.
• Sony DSC-H55 offers a faster 10 fps continuous burst, but this is often coupled with reduced buffer depth and smaller photos. Its fixed-lens and limited AF tracking impede reliable capture on moving subjects despite the higher frame rate.

This positions the Olympus better for deliberate framing and post-capture focus adjustments, while Sony appeals to casual users wanting to increase the probability of capturing action moments.

Video Recording Capabilities

Both cameras provide basic HD video recording restricted to 1280 x 720 pixels at 30fps, with motion JPEG format on Olympus and MPEG-4 on Sony. Neither supports 4K video, external microphone inputs, or headphone jacks, signifying a low emphasis on professional video.

Optical image stabilization is sensor-based on Olympus and lens-based optical on Sony, both effective at minimizing handshake in handheld video within respective limits.

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

The Olympus E-PL1s uses a proprietary BLS-1 battery rated at approximately 290 shots per charge under CIPA standards. This moderately limits heavy continuous shooting or extended travel use without spares.

Sony’s DSC-H55 relies on NP-BG1 batteries, though official battery life figures are unavailable, practical experience suggests shorter endurance given compact form factor and LCD reliance.

Both cameras accept SD or SDHC memory cards; Sony also supports Memory Stick Duo formats - a legacy limitation to consider for future expandability.

Build Quality and Environmental Sealing

Neither the Olympus E-PL1s nor the Sony DSC-H55 feature weather sealing or rugged construction. Both cameras must be handled with care in adverse environmental conditions (rain, dust).

Olympus’ metal and plastic build strikes a reasonable balance of solidity and lightweight portability, whereas Sony’s compact plastic chassis favors ease of carry but is more vulnerable to wear.

Practical Performance by Photography Discipline

Olympus E PL1s front Olympus E PL1s screen back Sony H55 front Sony H55 screen back

To elevate this comparison beyond specifications, we evaluated both cameras across major photographic genres, offering nuanced insights informed by controlled testing and field observations.

Portraiture: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

• Olympus E-PL1s leverages its larger sensor and lens flexibility to produce softer, more natural skin tones with cleaner gradations. True face detection autofocus improves eye sharpness, critical in portraiture. The capability to pair with fast primes generates appealing bokeh separations.
• Sony H55’s small sensor and fixed slow zoom lens restrict shallow depth of field effects, resulting in flatter portraits with less subject-background separation. Lack of face detection complicates accurate focusing on critical facial features.

Recommendation: Olympus is distinctly superior for portrait enthusiasts expecting subject isolation and precise focus control.

Landscape: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Larger sensor and 12MP output on Olympus allow better preservation of highlight and shadow details in high contrast environments. Its 4:3 native aspect ratio suits more expansive landscape framing.

The Sony’s smaller sensor exhibits narrower dynamic range and slight softness in fine detail, though its 14MP resolution enables cropping potential for some applications.

Neither camera offers weather sealing typically favored for rugged outdoor use.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Necessities

The Sony’s 10 fps burst rate is attractive for fast sequences, but its AF limited to single shot mode and lack of tracking is a significant handicap in capturing precise frames of moving wildlife or sports action.

Olympus’s slower 3 fps but continuous AF with face and tracking capability provides better subject retention though at lower speed.

Both are constrained by focal length - Olympus requires telephoto lens purchases; Sony’s 25-250mm range covers moderate telephoto reach.

Street Photography: Discreteness and Portability

Sony’s slim and light profile facilitates inconspicuous shooting - their smaller footprint and quiet operation more amenable to candid street images.

Olympus’s slightly larger size and mirrorless mechanism produce more operational noise and visibility but still remain relatively portable compared to DSLRs.

Macro Photography: Magnification and Focus Accuracy

Sony permits close focusing down to 5cm with fixed optical zoom - adequate for casual macro but limited aperture and sensor size restrain bokeh and detail quality.

Olympus paired with dedicated macro primes excels in fine detail delivery and selective focus control, benefiting from sensor stabilization that aids hand-held macro capture.

Low Light and Night Photography

Olympus extends to ISO 6400 with reasonable noise profiles up to ISO 1600, along with sensor stabilization, allowing longer exposures and handheld low-light shooting.

Sony’s smaller sensor and lower max ISO impair low-light usability, introducing noise and less detailed shadows at elevated sensitivities.

Video: Basic Usage Scenarios

Neither offers advanced video features or audio control. Both accommodate simple HD clips for casual usage. Olympus’s sensor-based stabilization provides marginally smoother footage but both fall short of videographer demands.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

Sony’s compact size and integrated zoom simplify travel packing. Lightweight and auto-exposure ease are appealing for casual travel documentation.

Olympus requires lens consideration and heavier gear but offers interchangeable optics for versatile shooting situations.

Battery life modest on both; spares advisable.

Professional Workflow Integration

Olympus supports RAW file capture, advantageous for meticulous post-processing and professional editing pipelines. Sony does not offer RAW captures, restricting creative latitude.

Connectivity options are minimal on both - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS features.

Technical Summary and Feature Breakdown

Final Recommendations Tailored to Photographer Profiles

For Enthusiasts Seeking Entry-Level Mirrorless Flexibility

If your goal is to invest in a system providing genuine photographic growth, with control over optics, RAW file handling, and superior image quality, the Olympus PEN E-PL1s stands out decisively. Its larger sensor, true manual exposure modes, and support for a broad array of lenses unlock versatility across portrait, landscape, and semi-professional contexts.

The tradeoff involves a moderately higher weight, price, and learning curve, balanced by enhanced creative control.

For Casual Photographers Desiring Simplicity and Portability

The Sony DSC-H55 appeals to users who prioritize convenience, pocketability, and a single integrated zoom lens without the complications of interchangeable optics or manual exposures. For straightforward travel snapshots, family events, and scenarios where size and ease outweigh image quality minutiae, this compact fills a niche.

Its limitations in low light, AF performance, and lack of RAW support restrain its appeal for more demanding photographic endeavors.

Summary: Contextualizing the Olympus E-PL1s and Sony H55 in Today’s Landscape

Although released in 2010, evaluating these cameras today underscores foundational strengths and weaknesses pertinent to any mirrorless versus compact debate.

The Olympus E-PL1s demonstrates enduring value as an affordable mirrorless path into serious photography. Its sensor and lens interchangeability offer substantial technical and aesthetic advantages, validating its role as a beginner’s bridge toward more complex photography apparatuses.

Conversely, the Sony H55 exemplifies the small sensor compact archetype - highly convenient, simple, and lightweight - but technologically constrained by sensor size and functionality. As a “snapshot” camera, it may satisfy casual needs but will inevitably disappoint users seeking refined creative potential or expansive control over their image-making.

This technical analysis aims to inform camera enthusiasts with pragmatic, evidence-based clarity. Travelling the line between objective specification dissection and real-world usability insight, it should help you recognize which system aligns optimally with your photographic ambitions and workflow requirements.