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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL9
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Launched August 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-S2
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Below is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus E-PL8 versus Pentax K-S1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the K-S1 (20MP) is very similar but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and K-S1 (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The E-PL8 was revealed 2 years later than the K-S1 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-PL8 grades against the K-S1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Pentax K-S1

 E-PL8 K-S1 
LaunchedSeptember 2016August 2014More recent by 26 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k921kCrisper display (+116k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Olympus E-PL8

 K-S1 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-S1

 E-PL8 K-S1 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL8 comes with exterior measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Pentax K-S1 has proportions of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") having a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL8 versus Pentax K-S1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL8 versus the K-S1.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and K-S1 is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing specifications. The photograph below should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and K-S1.

To sum up, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-S1 will offer you extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more recent E-PL8 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography features
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
77
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL8
Street photography with Pentax K-S1
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (558 grams)
above average ISO range (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography highlights
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
69
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames per second)
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Pentax K-S1
71
features focus via touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
60
lighter than competition in class (558g)
megapixel count good (20MP)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (410 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL8
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S1
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
not so great battery pack (410 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL8
Vlogging with Pentax K-S1
35
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (558 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-S1
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Pentax K-S1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Pentax K-S1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2016-09-19 2014-08-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Prime MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 25600 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 5.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 gr (0.79 lb) 558 gr (1.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1061
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 410 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $500 $339