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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 DMC-S1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic S1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and S1 (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL9 was announced 7 years later than the S1 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-PL9 grades against the S1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic S1

 E-PL9 S1 
ReleasedFebruary 2018January 2011More recent by 87 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Olympus E-PL9

 S1 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic S1

 E-PL9 S1 
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL9 has got physical dimensions 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 dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic S1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL9 vs the S1.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and S1 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and S1.

As you have seen, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 with its larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL9 will give greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The younger E-PL9 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

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 information
Panasonic S1 Portrait photography information
73
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
21
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography information
Panasonic S1 Street photography information
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes touch to focus
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography features
Panasonic S1 Sports photography features
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography factors
Panasonic S1 Travel photography factors
77
supports bluetooth
includes touch to focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have a selfie friendly display
62
lighter than competition (117g)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography info
Panasonic S1 Landscape photography info
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
32
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
Vlogging with Panasonic S1
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing microphone support
31
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic socket
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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 DMC-S1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2018-02-08 2011-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380g (0.84 lbs) 117g (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 photos 240 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $599 $269