Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax S1: An Experienced Photographer’s Head-to-Head Review

Choosing the right camera, especially when balancing features, image quality, and price, is a task I’ve faced countless times – both for myself and in guiding others. Today, we’re diving deep into a side-by-side comparison of two distinct 2011 models: the Olympus PEN E-PL2, an entry-level mirrorless Micro Four Thirds system, and the Pentax Optio S1, a compact small-sensor camera. Though their specs initially tell different stories about their intended users and capabilities, it’s only in actual testing that the nuances emerge.

I’ve evaluated both extensively, testing them across multiple genres - from portraits in natural light to wildlife bursts, street candids to nightscapes. My goal here is to help you decide which of these two holds more practical value depending on your needs and shooting style. Let’s start with the basics and work our way into deep technical and day-to-day performance analysis.

The Physical Feel: Size, Ergonomics, and Controls

First impressions count, and ergonomics directly influence your shooting experience. The Olympus E-PL2 stands out as a classic rangefinder-style mirrorless with a larger body, while the Pentax S1 is all about compactness.

At 114 x 72 x 42 mm with a weight of 362 grams, the Olympus E-PL2 is nearly twice as heavy as the petite Pentax S1, which measures 114 x 58 x 28 mm and weighs under 160 grams. You can almost swap a light pancake lens on the E-PL2 and still feel a balanced grip; the Pentax S1, meanwhile, feels like a sleek pocket camera you’ll barely notice.

But size isn’t everything. The control layout on the E-PL2 gives a tactile, responsive experience - visible dials, shutter speed adjustments, and exposure compensation buttons lie within easy thumb reach. In contrast, the Pentax S1 is more stripped down, with minimal physical controls and no dedicated manual exposure modes, leaning heavily on automatic settings.

Take a look here at the top control real estate:

The Olympus’s control cluster is noticeably richer, offering quick access to key settings and a more professional feel. For users who like direct manual control - even at entry-level - the E-PL2 takes the prize. For casual snapshots or travel photography where pocketability is king, the Pentax S1 delivers in spades.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

In image quality, the core differentiator is unsurprisingly the sensor. Olympus E-PL2 houses a Four Thirds sized CMOS sensor (17.3 x 13 mm) while the Pentax S1 uses a tiny 1/2.3 inch CCD (6.17 x 4.55 mm). That means approximately eightfold larger sensor area for the Olympus - a massive advantage for image clarity, noise handling, and dynamic range.

The E-PL2’s sensor resolution clocks in at 12 megapixels, which might seem modest these days, but these pixels come from a larger sensor surface - a fact that translates into finer detail and better performance at higher ISO settings. Its anti-aliasing filter reduces moiré artifacts without sacrificing sharpness too much.

The Pentax S1, with 14 megapixels packed into a much smaller sensor, produces images with typical compact camera limitations: less depth, more noise creeping beyond ISO 400, and lower dynamic range. Its broader focal length multiplier of 5.8x (due to sensor crop) means the effective zoom range is significant on paper, but quality diminishes visibly at telephoto extremes.

Testing in real-world light reinforces these aspects. Olympus images demonstrate smoother gradations and richer, more natural colors, while Pentax images occasionally feel plasticky or oversharpened in default JPEG output.

LCD and User Interface: How Do You See Your Shots?

Handling and composing images are greatly influenced by screen quality and responsiveness. The Olympus E-PL2 sports a 3-inch HyperCrystal LCD with a 460k-dot resolution. Though non-touch and fixed, it’s crisp and bright enough for critical focusing and menu navigation.

The Pentax S1’s 2.7-inch TFT screen is less impressive at 230k dots, displaying softer details with limited viewing angles.

The difference here is immediately noticeable in bright daylight, where the E-PL2’s anti-reflective coating shines, keeping the image preview visible. The Pentax’s screen washes out more easily, making framing and assessing focus more difficult outdoors.

Moreover, Olympus’s interface menus feel more refined and logically organized, a reflection of its system heritage geared toward enthusiasts, whereas Pentax’s simpler interface matches its compact point-and-shoot design philosophy.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Autofocus Precision

Portrait work is an excellent lens through which to gauge autofocus accuracy, skin tone reproduction, and background rendering (bokeh).

Though both cameras offer face detection (only Olympus supports animal eye detection, not relevant here), the Olympus E-PL2 takes advantage of contrast-detection AF across 11 focus points and includes eye detection to hone in precisely on a subject’s gaze.

Pentax, with just 9 focus points and no face detection, relies heavily on you framing and focusing manually or via center AF, often missing subtle expressions if the subject moves.

In my portraits under natural window light, Olympus consistently rendered pleasing skin tones - warm yet natural, without oversaturation or washed-out patches. The E-PL2’s sensor depth and the Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem offer access to fast primes producing creamy bokeh backgrounds that isolate subjects beautifully.

For example, a 45mm f/1.8 on the E-PL2 creates a smooth, rounded bokeh pattern, excellent at separating the subject from backgrounds in environmental portraits.

Pentax’s fixed 28-140mm F3.5-5.5 lens, while versatile, lacks the speed to create strong bokeh, and skin tone rendering leaned toward flatness with harder shadows when indoors.

Landscape Photography: Resolution and Dynamic Range on Display

While neither camera matches top-tier professional options, here the Olympus E-PL2 pulls ahead with a sensor capable of decent dynamic range and detail retention.

At base ISO 100, the E-PL2 can capture 12MP images with rich tonality in highlight and shadow areas. The 4:3 aspect ratio complements typical landscape framing, preserving vertical elements well.

Pentax offers a marginally higher pixel count (14MP), but the tiny sensor restricts dynamic range and low ISO usability. In landscape tests, dynamic range is visibly compressed - shadows clip earlier, and bright sky details tend to blow out.

Also, sturdy weather sealing or ruggedness? Neither model offers it, so both remain at risk for rough outdoor conditions. However, Olympus’s larger grip and robust build inspire more confidence on hiking trips.

The max aperture range on Pentax’s lens is narrow, leaving you relying heavily on slower shutter speeds or higher ISO to capture landscapes in lower light, risking motion blur or noise.

Wildlife and Sports: Burst Rates and Autofocus Speed

Wildlife and sports photography demand cameras with swift autofocus acquisition, accurate tracking, and high continuous shooting speeds.

Olympus E-PL2 offers continuous shooting at 3fps, autofocus continuous mode, and 11 focus points optimized for live view and tracking. Though not blazing fast by today’s standards, it suffices for casual action - like birds fluttering or kids playing.

Pentax S1 caps at a sluggish 1fps burst and relies on contrast-detection AF with only 9 points. The result? Slower and less confident focus locking, meaning missing fleeting decisive moments is frequent.

In real testing chasing flying birds and quick sports sequences, Olympus maintained focus better, tracking subjects reasonably well, though with occasional hunting in low contrast. Pentax struggled to maintain consistent focus and often lagged, producing several unusable frames per burst sequence.

Street Photography and Portability: A Balancing Act

Street shooters value discretion, portability, and quick responsiveness. Here, Pentax’s compact pocket form makes a strong case.

The S1 disappears into a jacket pocket - ideal for candid moments without drawing attention. Olympus E-PL2, while not bulky, requires a dedicated bag or strap, and its clicky shutter and zoom lens are more noticeable.

On the other hand, Olympus’s superior image quality, quicker autofocus, and manual exposure modes give you creative freedom. Street photography styles that play with shallow depth of field or dynamic light contrast benefit from a larger sensor and better ISO handling.

If your priority is travel and stealthy street shooting, Pentax S1 offers convenience. That said, you’ll compromise image quality and low-light performance significantly.

Macro Photography: Focusing Precision and Magnification

Neither camera is primarily designed for macro work, but let's see how they fare.

Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds mount is a boon here - you can easily mount dedicated macro lenses with 1:1 reproduction ratios and use sensor-based image stabilization for tack-sharp close-ups.

The Pentax S1 benefits from a close focus distance as short as 1cm at its widest settings, and sensor-shift stabilization helps, but the fixed lens and tiny sensor limit detail and depth control.

Testing close-up shots, Olympus achieves fine texture and excellent focus accuracy, while Pentax images show noticeable softness and difficulty maintaining precise focus over uneven subjects.

Night and Astro: ISO Performance and Exposure Modes

Low-light and astrophotography reveal much about sensor performance and camera firmware sophistication.

The Olympus E-PL2’s ISO range extends to 6400, with ISO invariance allowing clean images at mid-to-high sensitivities. Its RAW support lets you push shadows and recover stars in post-processing.

Pentax S1 also claims ISO 6400 but on a tiny 1/2.3" sensor, noise quickly overwhelms images beyond ISO 400 or 800.

Exposure modes for long exposures are available on Olympus via manual and bulb modes - critical for star trails or nightscapes. Pentax doesn’t offer manual shutter priority or bulb mode, restricting creative control in darkness.

In practical tests under low light, Olympus shots preserve more detail, less noise, and truer colors. Pentax images become grainy and lose sharpness quickly.

Video Capabilities: What Can They Record?

Both cameras offer basic video recording with 1280 x 720 resolution at 30 fps (Motion JPEG). This was typical in 2011, but far from professional-grade video.

Neither has microphone inputs or headphone jacks, limiting audio control. Olympus’s stabilized sensor slightly improves handheld recording smoothness. Pentax offers sensor-shift stabilization as well, but its video controls are even more rudimentary - no manual exposure in video mode, for instance.

For casual family videos or quick vlogging snippets, either suffices. Serious video shooters would quickly outgrow both.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

For travel, battery endurance, lens versatility, overall weight, and connectivity matter a lot.

Olympus E-PL2 uses a removable battery delivering about 280 shots per charge, while Pentax S1’s smaller battery offers around 260 shots - comparable, though Olympus uses standard battery packs easily swapped.

Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds lenses give you flexibility: wide-angle for landscapes, fast primes for portraits, telephoto zooms, and more compact options. Pentax’s fixed lens covers 28-140mm effectively but fixes maximum apertures on the slower side.

Connectivity is sparse on both: no WiFi, Bluetooth, or GPS. HDMI and USB 2.0 ports exist for file transfer and video output.

If you’re trekking for weeks and need extensive battery life and remote connectivity, these cameras fall short. But for weekend trips or casual coverage, the Olympus E-PL2's versatility edges it ahead.

Professional Work: Reliability and Workflow Integration

While neither Olympus E-PL2 nor Pentax S1 targets professional applications, some photographers might consider them as backup cameras or experimental tools.

Olympus supports RAW shooting, a non-negotiable for professional workflows, while Pentax S1 does not - forcing you to rely on compressed JPEGs that limit post-production.

Build quality on both is adequate for indoor and fair-weather use but lacks any weather sealing or rugged features. Olympus’s more substantial body and interchangeable lens mount make it more adaptable, lending itself better to professional demands when paired with quality lenses and accessories.

Both cameras support standard SD cards; Olympus’s USB 2.0 connectivity means reasonable transfer speeds for image review and backup, but no tethering support is available.

Summing It Up: Which One Should You Choose?

Below is a performance and usability snapshot from my full battery of tests:

And a heatmap of genre-specific strengths and weaknesses:

Olympus E-PL2 Highlights:

• Larger Four Thirds sensor offers superior image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance
• Interchangeable lens system providing exceptional versatility
• Better autofocus system supporting face and eye detection
• Manual controls including shutter/aperture priority and full manual exposure
• Slightly bulkier but well-balanced with thoughtful ergonomics
• RAW shooting support crucial for editing flexibility
• Suitable for portraits, landscapes, wildlife, macro, and amateur video

Olympus E-PL2 Drawbacks:

• No built-in EVF; external optional EVF available (extra cost)
• No wireless connectivity or GPS
• Build not weather-sealed; limited ruggedness

Pentax Optio S1 Highlights:

• Ultra-compact, pocket-friendly design for ultimate portability
• Decent zoom range in built-in lens with stabilization
• Easy-to-use interface for casual shooting
• Affordable price point around $174 new (though now discontinued)

Pentax S1 Drawbacks:

• Small sensor significantly limits image quality, dynamic range, and low-light usability
• Fixed lens with slow maximum apertures
• No RAW support; limited manual control
• Slow autofocus and low continuous shooting speed hamper action shots
• Modest LCD screen and no EVF

Final Thoughts: Two Cameras for Two Worlds

If you’re an enthusiast or even semi-professional aiming for creative control, image quality, and versatility, Olympus E-PL2 is undeniably the better choice - even a decade after its release. Its sensor size, lens mount, and controls support a wide range of photography disciplines effectively.

The Pentax S1 makes sense if your priority is ultra-portable casual shooting, travel snapshots that fit in your pocket, and a budget-conscious entry into compact cameras. However, in exchange, you accept lower image quality and fewer creative options.

One caveat: both models are legacy cameras now, and modern entry-level mirrorless cameras frequently outperform them in autofocus, sensor technology, and video.

Still, if you’re looking at used gear or collectors’ pieces, understanding these strengths and weaknesses is essential. I recommend the Olympus for anyone serious about elevating their photography, and the Pentax for casual users valuing pocketability and ease.

Sample Images: Seeing Is Believing

To conclude, here are representative gallery images from both cameras highlighting portrait skin tone, bokeh, landscape detail, close macro, and low-light capabilities:

Olympus E PL2 front Olympus E PL2 screen back Pentax S1 front Pentax S1 screen back

Notice the detail retention differences in shadows and colors, as well as bokeh smoothness on portraits from Olympus versus Pentax.

In my experience spanning thousands of cameras, these two reflect very different design philosophies and user priorities. Hopefully, this detailed look helps you pick the one more suited to your photographic path - whether it’s the versatile Olympus E-PL2 or the pocket powerhouse Pentax S1.

Happy shooting out there! Feel free to ask any follow-up questions or request test images - I’m always here to help unravel camera choices based on real, hands-on experience.