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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 DMC-S1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2011
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 Overview

Here is a extended overview of the Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the S1 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was introduced 2 months later than the S1 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-PL2 scores versus the S1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic S1

 E-PL2 S1 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Olympus E-PL2

 S1 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic S1

 E-PL2 S1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011January 2011Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 provides outside measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Panasonic S1 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL2 against the S1.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and S1 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic S1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing merely by looking through specs. The photograph below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and S1.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL2 has the bigger sensor which should make getting shallow DOF less difficult.

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 advice
Panasonic S1 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
21
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography details
Panasonic S1 Street photography details
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography info
Panasonic S1 Sports photography info
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery (280 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
27
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL2
Travel photography with Panasonic S1
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery (280 CIPA)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
62
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography information
Panasonic S1 Landscape photography information
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery (280 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
32
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic S1 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone port
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
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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 DMC-S1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-11 2011-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 362 gr (0.80 lb) 117 gr (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 images 240 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $0 $269