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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 front
Portability
54
Imaging
75
Features
84
Overall
78

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 1021g - 149 x 110 x 97mm
  • Introduced February 2019
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic S1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and S1 (24MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and S1 (Full frame) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL9 was introduced 11 months earlier than the S1 which means that they are of a similar age. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL9 matches up versus the S1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic S1

 E-PL9 S1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Olympus E-PL9

 S1 E-PL9 
IntroducedFebruary 2019February 2018Newer by 11 months
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution2100k1040kClearer screen (+1060k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic S1

 E-PL9 S1 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 enjoys outside measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S1 has measurements of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") along with a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic S1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL9 vs the S1.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and S1 is 85 and 54 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions just by going through specs. The image below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and S1.

All in all, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Panasonic S1 will show extra detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PL9 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic S1 Portrait photography advice
73
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
85
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/320 seconds)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography highlights
Panasonic S1 Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
70
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
environment proofing
good high ISO (51,200)
heavier than competitors in class (1,021 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography features
Panasonic S1 Sports photography features
69
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
not so great battery power (380 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
Travel photography with Panasonic S1
77
has bluetooth
offers touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
59
environment proofing
supports bluetooth
supports touch to focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
not so great battery power (380 CIPA)
heavier than competitors in class (1,021 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography info
Panasonic S1 Landscape photography info
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
81
focusing manually
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
not so great battery power (380 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
Vlogging with Panasonic S1
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
32
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external mic jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
heavier than competitors in class (1,021g)
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic S1
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2018-02-08 2019-02-01
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 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 resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Highest boosted ISO 25600 204800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 121 225
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Leica L
Amount of lenses 107 30
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 2,100 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 5,760 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.6 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/320 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 gr (0.84 pounds) 1021 gr (2.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 149 x 110 x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 95
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 3333
Other
Battery life 350 shots 380 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) -
Storage slots One 2
Launch cost $599 $2,498