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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL8
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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Released August 2014
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-S2
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-PL9 versus Pentax K-S1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the K-S1 (20MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and K-S1 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL9 was brought out 3 years after the K-S1 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PL9 scores vs the K-S1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Pentax K-S1

 E-PL9 K-S1 
ReleasedFebruary 2018August 2014More modern by 43 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k921kSharper display (+119k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Olympus E-PL9

 K-S1 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax K-S1

 E-PL9 K-S1 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 enjoys outer dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Pentax K-S1 has measurements of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL9 versus Pentax K-S1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL9 and the K-S1.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and K-S1 is 85 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizes purely by going over specs. The image below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and K-S1.

All in all, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL9 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax K-S1 will offer you greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The more modern E-PL9 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography details
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
77
focusing manually
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography information
Pentax K-S1 Street photography information
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features focus via touch
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (558 grams)
very good ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography advice
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
lack of phase detect auto focus
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 fps)
not so great battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
Travel photography with Pentax K-S1
77
has bluetooth
features focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
60
lighter than competitors in class (558g)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (410 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography advice
80
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging factors
35
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no mic jack
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (558g)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax K-S1
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Pentax K-S1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Pentax K-S1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2018-02-08 2014-08-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Prime MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias 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 6400 51200
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6 frames per second 5.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 grams (0.84 pounds) 558 grams (1.23 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1061
Other
Battery life 350 photos 410 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $599 $339