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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(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
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
  • Introduced March 2011
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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.

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The 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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax S1

 E-PL3 S1 
IntroducedSeptember 2011March 2011More recent by 7 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
35
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography highlights
Pentax S1 Street photography highlights
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
39
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
includes tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography features
Pentax S1 Travel photography features
44
no Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (300 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
64
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography features
Pentax S1 Landscape photography features
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
42
manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax S1 Vlogging highlights
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no mic socket
28
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax S1
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax 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