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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL7
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL9
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax RS1500, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL8 was introduced 5 years after the RS1500 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-PL8 grades versus the RS1500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Pentax RS1500

 E-PL8 RS1500 
LaunchedSeptember 2016March 2011More modern by 68 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus E-PL8

 RS1500 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax RS1500

 E-PL8 RS1500 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL8 has got outside 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 RS1500 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax RS1500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-PL8 and the RS1500.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and RS1500 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading through specs. The pic here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL8 and RS1500.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-PL8 will resolve extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The newer E-PL8 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography details
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography details
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
35
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography highlights
Pentax RS1500 Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
provides touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
54
environment proof
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL8
Sports photography with Pentax RS1500
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
37
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography details
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography details
72
provides touch to focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
67
environment proof
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Landscape photography camera
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
40
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging factors
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging factors
36
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
25
pretty wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Pentax Optio RS1500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2016-09-19 2011-03-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
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) 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 H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357g (0.79 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 260 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $500 $150