Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax S1

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.

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.

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.

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.