Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1
88 Imaging
48 Features
52 Overall
49
93 Imaging
37 Features
31 Overall
34
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 200 - 12800
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
- Revealed September 2011
- Old Model is Olympus E-PL2
(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
- Introduced March 2011
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1 Overview
On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax S1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the S1 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.
Photography GlossaryThe E-PL3 was manufactured 7 months later than the S1 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.
Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL3 grades against the S1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL3 and Pentax Optio S1. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery and Pentax S1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax S1
E-PL3 | S1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | September 2011 | March 2011 | More recent by 7 months | |
Display type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting display | |
Display dimensions | 3" | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") | |
Display resolution | 460k | 230k | Sharper display (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Olympus E-PL3
S1 | E-PL3 |
---|
Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax S1
E-PL3 | S1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | More accurate focusing | |||
Selfie screen | Missing selfie screen | |||
Touch friendly display | Missing Touch friendly display |
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 provides external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Pentax S1 has dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).
Check out the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax S1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL3 against the S1.
Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and S1 is 88 and 93 respectively.
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements just by going over a spec sheet. The graphic below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and S1.
As you can see, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Pentax S1 will offer more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The younger E-PL3 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL3 | Pentax Optio S1 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Olympus | Pentax |
Model | Olympus PEN E-PL3 | Pentax Optio S1 |
Type | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Small Sensor Compact |
Revealed | 2011-09-20 | 2011-03-02 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | Truepic VI | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12MP | 14MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 4288 x 3216 |
Max native ISO | 12800 | 6400 |
Minimum native ISO | 200 | 80 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Number of focus points | 35 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 28-140mm (5.0x) |
Highest aperture | - | f/3.5-5.5 |
Macro focus distance | - | 1cm |
Available lenses | 107 | - |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3 inches | 2.7 inches |
Resolution of screen | 460k dot | 230k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Screen technology | HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating | TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic (optional) | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60 seconds | 4 seconds |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/1500 seconds |
Continuous shutter speed | 6.0 frames/s | 1.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | no built-in flash | 3.90 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 1/160 seconds | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 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) |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
Video format | AVCHD, Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Mic 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 proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 313 gr (0.69 lbs) | 157 gr (0.35 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") | 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 52 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | 20.9 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | 10.3 | not tested |
DXO Low light score | 499 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 300 pictures | 260 pictures |
Form of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | BLS-5 | D-LI92 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Launch price | $399 | $174 |