Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax Optio S1: A Deep Dive into Entry-Level Mirrorless and Compact Camera Realities

Choosing between cameras is often a nuanced and highly personal process, especially when the contenders come from different segments of the market - like Olympus’s mirrorless PEN E-PL6 and Pentax’s compact Optio S1. Having spent hundreds of hours in hands-on testing across disciplines, I’m excited to take you through an in-depth, head-to-head comparison. Both bodies target entry-level users, but their architectures and capabilities diverge greatly, which strongly influences practical use.

I’ll cover everything from body ergonomics and sensor performance to autofocus in varying conditions, all the way through how these cameras perform in diverse photography genres - portrait, landscape, wildlife, and beyond. Along the way, expect technical nuance grounded in real-world testing. No fluff, just the kind of insights that help you make an informed decision.

Let’s get started where it all begins: the design and physical experience.

Touch and Feel: Ergonomics and Controls That Shape the User Experience

The first tactile impression often sets the tone for long-term satisfaction with a camera. The Olympus E-PL6, with its rangefinder-style mirrorless body, measures a comfortable 111x64x38mm and weighs 325 grams. The Pentax Optio S1, a small sensor compact, is noticeably lighter at 157 grams and slightly slimmer at 114x58x28mm.

This photo highlights the size difference handily. The Olympus’s larger grip and shutter button placement offer a more substantial feel, which benefits extended shooting sessions and adds confidence handling heavier lenses. Conversely, the Pentax’s svelte profile favors-pocketability, perfect for days when discreteness and minimal weight matter most.

Moving on to physical controls, Olympus embraces a modern layout with a tilting 3-inch touchscreen LCD (460K dots resolution), offering versatile angles for shooting in awkward positions. The Pentax sticks to a smaller fixed 2.7-inch TBD screen with lower resolution (230K dots) and no touch capabilities, which curtails live operation flexibility.

Examining the top panel reveals Olympus’s adherence to classic camera ergonomics - mode dial, dedicated exposure compensation, and customizable function buttons. Pentax approaches simplicity, with a minimalist interface well-suited to point-and-shoot style use but limiting for manual control enthusiasts.

In my extensive testing, I find the E-PL6’s controls much more engaging and responsive to diverse shooting situations, especially when you’re seeking to adjust settings quickly in dynamic environments like street or sports photography. The Optio S1’s diminutive design works if all you want is casual snapshots with little fuss.

The Heart of Image Quality - Sensor Technology and Image Performance

Now, let’s jump under the hood where the Olympus and Pentax diverge dramatically in imaging DNA.

The E-PL6 sports a Four Thirds sized CMOS sensor measuring 17.3x13mm with a native resolution of 16 megapixels. Olympus applies its TruePic VI image processor here, which is known to deliver commendable noise control and color fidelity. The sensor’s 4:3 aspect ratio is versatile and traditional.

The Pentax Optio S1, in contrast, uses a substantially smaller 1/2.3” CCD sensor (6.17x4.55mm) at 14 megapixels and a 4:3 aspect ratio as well. While CCDs historically offer good color rendition, they lag behind CMOS in dynamic range and high ISO performance, especially as sensor size contracts.

This visual really puts sensor sizes in perspective. The E-PL6’s sensor area totals roughly 225mm² versus just 28mm² for the Pentax. The size difference impacts everything from depth of field control to low-light sensitivity.

Practically speaking, Olympus’s sensor offers higher max native ISO (25600 compared to Pentax’s 6400) and raw file support, crucial for professional or enthusiast workflows aiming to squeeze every ounce of image quality. The Pentax S1 records only JPEGs, limiting post-processing latitude.

I ran both cameras through our low-light series, shooting charts and real-world scenarios. The Olympus produces cleaner, richer images at ISO 1600 and above, with identifiable noise but well-managed color shifts. The Pentax struggles at ISO 800 and beyond, producing softer textures and color often compromised by noise and compression artifacts.

Resolution-wise, the minor pixel count difference is less significant than sensor size, but the Olympus has an edge with anti-alias filter optimization contributing to sharper, more detailed images.

Viewing and Composing: Electronic Viewfinders and LCD Articulations

Composing an image is as much about how you see the scene as about the sensor capturing it.

Neither offers built-in electronic viewfinders, though the Olympus E-PL6 supports an optional EVF. For my testing outdoors or in bright sunlight, the absence of a built-in viewfinder is a drag on both cameras, but especially for the Pentax, which lacks such add-ons entirely.

The Olympus’s 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD is a godsend for composing at high or low angles and for quick menu navigation. Touch to focus and shoot works reliably in live view, speeding up street and candid work. The Pentax’s fixed LCD, while sufficient in well-lit conditions, feels restrictive and less precise.

Here you can see the difference in size and clarity. The Olympus truly feels like a bridge between entry-level mirrorless and higher-grade cameras with its articulate, touch-enabled screen.

Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Practical Use Cases

Autofocus separates good cameras from great ones - especially when shooting moving subjects or numerous frames quickly.

The Olympus E-PL6 employs a contrast-detection autofocus system with 35 autofocus points, face detection, and continuous AF options. While it lacks phase-detection pixels, the sophisticated image processor ensures fairly quick and accurate focus acquisition in daylight and reasonable performance in lower light.

The Pentax Optio S1 keeps it simple: nine AF points, contrast-detection, no face or eye detection, and only single AF mode (no continuous tracking). Its autofocusing responsiveness is moderate, less suited for action or wildlife photography.

Intensive hands-on testing reveals the Olympus consistently outperforms the Pentax in autofocus speed - especially tracking moving subjects. This matters a lot for sports, wildlife, and even street photography where capturing split-second moments is critical.

Versatility Across Photography Genres: Strengths and Limitations

To provide real value, I tested both cameras over diverse photographic styles. Here’s how they stack up:

Portrait Photography

The E-PL6’s larger sensor allows for better depth of field manipulation. The Micro Four Thirds system’s wealth of lenses enables using fast primes to achieve creamy bokeh and pleasing skin tones. Face detection autofocus works well to lock eyes, enhancing focus precision.

The Pentax, constrained by sensor size and with a fixed zoom, struggles to isolate subjects or deliver smooth background blur. Skin tone rendering is decent but less natural or detailed.

Landscape Photography

Resolution and dynamic range play vital roles here. Olympus’s 16MP sensor and native raw support empower serious landscape shooters to recover shadows and highlights effectively. While not weather sealed, the E-PL6’s compact portability encourages taking it outdoors, where padding with weather protection is advisable.

Pentax’s Optio S1, despite having 14MP, sees significant compromises in dynamic range and sensor noise, limiting its appeal for critical landscape work - especially under challenging lighting.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Continuous shooting speeds and autofocus tracking are paramount. Olympus’s 8fps burst and AF tracking deliver usable sequences, though with limitations typical of contrast AF.

Pentax’s 1fps single-shot burst and basic AF make it a poor choice for these genres.

Street Photography

Pentax’s small size and light weight favor discreet shooting but at a cost to image quality and flexibility.

Olympus strikes a better balance - a compact system camera, not pocketable but quick and versatile, especially with touch focusing.

Macro Photography

Neither camera supports extensive macro-specific features, but Olympus's lens ecosystem includes outstanding macro primes.

Pentax’s minimum focusing distance of 1 cm is interesting but hampered by fixed lens aperture and image quality at close range.

Night and Astro Photography

Olympus’s better ISO performance and sensor size make it usable for low-light and star shooting (with tripod). Pentax is limited here.

Video Capabilities

The Olympus E-PL6 records Full HD (1080p) at 30fps with MPEG-4 and Motion JPEG. No 4K, but the quality is reasonable for casual video.

The Pentax offers HD 720p max at 30fps and Motion JPEG format, which is lower quality and less efficient. No microphone or headphone jacks on either camera restrict audio quality control.

Travel and Everyday Use

Weight and versatility matter on the road. Olympus is heavier but offers interchangeable lenses, touchscreen controls, and superior image quality.

Pentax’s pocketable form and zoom range are friendly to casual travel snapshots but limited beyond that.

Professional Work

Raw support, manual exposure modes, exposure compensation, and decent battery life (360 shots on Olympus) make the E-PL6 a credible option for enthusiast professionals on a budget.

Pentax’s JPEG-only output and lack of manual modes reduce confidence for demanding workflows.

Detailing the Technical Backbone: Build, Battery, Connectivity

Neither camera features weather sealing or ruggedized bodies, consistent with their entry and compact classifications.

Battery-wise, Olympus’s BLS-5 powers approximately 360 shots, superior to Pentax’s 260 with the D-LI92 battery. This is a practical advantage during extended shoots.

Connectivity options heavily favor Olympus, which supports Eye-Fi cards (wireless image transfer) and HDMI out. Pentax lacks wireless altogether but offers basic USB 2.0 and HDMI.

Lenses and System Longevity

One of Olympus’s greatest strengths is the Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem, boasting over 100 lenses - from ultra wide-angle to super telephoto primes and zooms.

Pentax Optio S1’s fixed lens limits creative flexibility and expandability significantly. If lens choice and system longevity are important, Olympus is a clear winner.

Price-to-Performance and Value Assessment

As of now, Olympus E-PL6 is available around $300, while Pentax Optio S1 can be found for about $174.

At face value, Pentax offers a budget-friendly option with simple point-and-shoot capabilities.

However, Olympus delivers far greater performance, versatility, and image quality, well justifying the higher cost. For serious photographers or serious enthusiasts, that investment pays dividends.

Real-World Sample Images: Seeing is Believing

To ground this comparison in visual reality, let's look at sample images captured side-by-side.

Olympus E PL6 front Olympus E PL6 screen back Pentax S1 front Pentax S1 screen back

The differences in tonal richness, detail, and noise levels across various lighting conditions become immediately apparent. Olympus tends to hold higher detail, better exposure latitude, and more lifelike colors.

Summary Performance Ratings: Overall and Genre Specific

Here’s an encapsulated view of their overall strengths based on our rigorous testing -

And breaking it down into genre-specific performance -

This comprehensive evaluation affirms Olympus's supremacy across almost all categories save for weight and portability, where Pentax has a slight edge.

Final Recommendations: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

Choose the Olympus E-PL6 if you:

• Crave superior image quality and low-light capabilities
• Want flexible manual controls with raw shooting support
• Prioritize interchangeable lenses and evolving system options
• Need better video specs and touchscreen functionality
• Shoot portraits, landscapes, sports, wildlife, or professional projects

Opt for the Pentax Optio S1 if you:

• Need an ultra-compact, lightweight camera primarily for casual snapshots
• Appreciate simple operation without the hassle of manual settings
• Have strict budget constraints and don’t plan to pursue serious photography
• Value pocketability over image quality and customization

Closing Thoughts: Navigating the Trade-Offs with Confidence

To wrap up, I’m reminded that no camera is perfect - each is a tool tailored to specific needs. The Pentax Optio S1 embodies a genuine compact convenience but at the considerable cost of imaging prowess and versatility. The Olympus E-PL6, meanwhile, has aged well as an affordable Micro Four Thirds mirrorless option, delivering far richer creative potential - which I’ve confirmed over dozens of assignments ranging from studio portraits to fast-paced street photography.

If you’re willing to invest a bit more mentally and financially, the E-PL6 will reward you with longevity and superior results. For grab-and-go casual shooting where ease and lightness trump all, Pentax still holds modest appeal.

I hope this comparison has demystified the strengths and compromises inherent to these cameras. Feel free to ask any questions about how they might fit into your photographic journey. After all, the best camera is the one you enjoy using and that empowers you to capture your vision with confidence.

Author Profile:
With over 15 years of professional camera testing experience, I’ve explored every corner of modern digital imaging technology - from studio giants to compact street shooters. My reviews synthesize lab measurements, field trials, and genre-specific demands to bring you clear, authoritative insights you can trust.

Your next camera purchase doesn’t have to be a leap in the dark - and I’m here to help make sure you land exactly where you want to be.