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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic XS1

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic XS1 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Revealed January 2016
Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Released January 2013
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic XS1 Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic XS1, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and XS1 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and XS1 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The PEN-F was brought out 3 years after the XS1 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the PEN-F matches up against the XS1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic XS1

 PEN-F XS1 
ReleasedJanuary 2016January 2013More modern by 38 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Olympus PEN-F

 XS1 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic XS1

 PEN-F XS1 

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic XS1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus PEN-F has outer measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") along with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic XS1 has proportions of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") having a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Check the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic XS1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the PEN-F versus the XS1.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic XS1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the PEN-F and XS1 is 84 and 97 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic XS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic XS1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes only by viewing specs. The pic here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and XS1.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The PEN-F due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus PEN-F will render greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The fresher PEN-F should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic XS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography information
Panasonic XS1 Portrait photography information
75
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
30
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Street photography camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Street photography camera
84
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (103g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus PEN-F
Sports photography with Panasonic XS1
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
terrible battery power (330 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus PEN-F
Travel photography with Panasonic XS1
75
supports focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery power (330 CIPA)
69
lighter than average in class (103 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography factors
Panasonic XS1 Landscape photography factors
76
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
terrible battery power (330 shots)
39
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Vlogging camera
78
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no external microphone port
31
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (103 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic XS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic XS1
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2016-01-27 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.40 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 gr (0.94 lb) 103 gr (0.23 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 260 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $1,000 $130