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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2014
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL6
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL8
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Announced August 2014
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

The following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-PL7 versus Pentax Q-S1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL7 (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and Q-S1 (1/1.7") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL7 was unveiled about the same time to the Q-S1 and they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL7 grades versus the Q-S1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Pentax Q-S1

 E-PL7 Q-S1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus E-PL7

 Q-S1 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax Q-S1

 E-PL7 Q-S1 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014August 2014Similar age
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL7 offers outer dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Pentax Q-S1 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL7 versus Pentax Q-S1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL7 against the Q-S1.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL7 and Q-S1 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading technical specs. The image here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL7 and Q-S1.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL7 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL7 will deliver extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography advice
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography advice
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
46
manual focus
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL7
Street photography with Pentax Q-S1
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average (203 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography advice
Pentax Q-S1 Sports photography advice
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
37
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
bad battery life (250 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography features
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography features
85
offers touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
60
lighter than average (203 grams)
flash built-in
bad battery life (250 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography features
Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography features
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
55
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
bad battery life (250 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL7
Vlogging with Pentax Q-S1
78
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (203g)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL7 Pentax Q-S1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2014-09-01 2014-08-04
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Q Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Amount of lenses 107 8
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357g (0.79 lb) 203g (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 873 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos 250 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $499 $250