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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax S1

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax S1 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
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL9
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax S1 Overview

The following is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax S1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the S1 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL8 was brought out 5 years after the S1 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL8 grades vs the S1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Pentax S1

 E-PL8 S1 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016March 2011Newer by 68 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Olympus E-PL8

 S1 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax S1

 E-PL8 S1 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 enjoys outside dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Pentax S1 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

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

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the E-PL8 compared to the S1.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and S1 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading through technical specs. The image below should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and S1.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL8 will give you extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots far more aggressively. The more recent E-PL8 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Portrait photography camera
72
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
35
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography features
Pentax S1 Sports photography features
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
39
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Pentax S1
71
has focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
64
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography details
Pentax S1 Landscape photography details
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
42
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging info
Pentax S1 Vlogging info
35
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone support
28
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax S1
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Pentax Optio S1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2016-09-19 2011-03-02
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357g (0.79 lbs) 157g (0.35 lbs)
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 images 260 images
Style 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 shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $500 $174