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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL2
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Revealed September 2014
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30 Overview

Following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Lens-style by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and QX30 (20MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and QX30 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1s was unveiled 4 years earlier than the QX30 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-PL1s scores vs the QX30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Sony QX30

 E-PL1s QX30 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen size2.7""Bigger screen (+2.7")
Screen resolution230k0kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 QX30 E-PL1s 
RevealedSeptember 2014November 2010More modern by 46 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Sony QX30

 E-PL1s QX30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1s offers exterior measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Sony QX30 has specifications of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL1s and the QX30.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and QX30 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reviewing specifications. The image below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1s and QX30.

Plainly, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1s using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Sony QX30 will offer extra detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Portrait photography with Sony QX30
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
38
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography factors
Sony QX30 Street photography factors
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Sports photography with Sony QX30
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery life (290 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
47
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 per charge)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Travel photography with Sony QX30
51
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
65
boasts focus via touch
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography information
Sony QX30 Landscape photography information
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery life (290 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
39
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen ( inch)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1s
Vlogging with Sony QX30
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Sony QX30
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sSony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Lens-style
Released 2010-11-16 2014-09-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches -
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 0 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
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) None
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lbs) 193 gr (0.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 200 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $599 $348