Olympus 1 vs Panasonic XS1

Following is a complete comparison of the Olympus 1 vs Panasonic XS1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the 1 (12MP) and XS1 (16MP) and the 1 (1/1.7") and XS1 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The 1 was launched 11 months after the XS1 so they are of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the 1 grades against the XS1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus 1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus 1 Gallery & Panasonic XS1 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus 1 has physical dimensions of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") and a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) while the Panasonic XS1 has sizing of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") along with a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus 1 vs Panasonic XS1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the 1 vs the XS1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1 and XS1 is 79 and 97 respectively.

Normally, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 and XS1.

Clearly, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The 1 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic XS1 will provide more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The fresher 1 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.