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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 front
Portability
54
Imaging
75
Features
84
Overall
78

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 1021g - 149 x 110 x 97mm
  • Announced February 2019
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic S1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and S1 (24MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and S1 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL2 was brought out 9 years before the S1 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL2 scores versus the S1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic S1

 E-PL2 S1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Olympus E-PL2

 S1 E-PL2 
AnnouncedFebruary 2019February 2011More recent by 97 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution2100k460kClearer screen (+1640k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic S1

 E-PL2 S1 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 offers outer dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S1 has specifications of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") and a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic S1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL2 and the S1.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and S1 is 85 and 54 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements simply by going over a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and S1.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic S1 will offer greater detail having its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The older E-PL2 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography features
Panasonic S1 Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
85
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/320s)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic S1 as a Street photography camera
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
70
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
supports touch focus
weather proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
heavier than competitors in class (1,021 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography factors
Panasonic S1 Sports photography factors
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery power (280 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
terrible battery pack (380 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S1 as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery power (280 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
59
weather proof
supports bluetooth
supports touch focus
decent MP (24MP)
terrible battery pack (380 CIPA)
heavier than competitors in class (1,021g)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography information
Panasonic S1 Landscape photography information
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (280 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
81
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather proof
has double storage slots
terrible battery pack (380 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging advice
Panasonic S1 Vlogging advice
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone support
32
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external mic port
does not feature selfie friendly screen
heavier than competitors in class (1,021g)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic S1
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2011-02-11 2019-02-01
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 225
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Leica L
Amount of lenses 107 30
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 2,100k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 5,760k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Max silent shutter speed - 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual 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) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s 1/320s
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 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lb) 1021 grams (2.25 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 149 x 110 x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 95
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 25.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 14.5
DXO Low light score 573 3333
Other
Battery life 280 shots 380 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC -
Storage slots One 2
Pricing at release $0 $2,498