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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax S1

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax S1 Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax S1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the S1 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was announced within a month of the S1 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-PL2 scores against the S1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Pentax S1

 E-PL2 S1 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Olympus E-PL2

 S1 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax S1

 E-PL2 S1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011March 2011Same generation
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 comes with physical dimensions 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 Pentax S1 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax S1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL2 versus the S1.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and S1 is 85 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to see the gap in sensor dimensions purely by researching specifications. The picture underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and S1.

Plainly, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 using its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax S1 will result in greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography factors
Pentax S1 Portrait photography factors
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
35
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography details
Pentax S1 Street photography details
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
Sports photography with Pentax S1
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery (280 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
39
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography highlights
Pentax S1 Travel photography highlights
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
low battery (280 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
64
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
Landscape photography with Pentax S1
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery (280 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
42
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging features
Pentax S1 Vlogging features
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic jack
28
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax S1
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax Optio S1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-02-11 2011-03-02
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362g (0.80 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 photos 260 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $0 $174