Olympus 1 vs Pentax S1

Following is a complete review of the Olympus 1 and Pentax S1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the 1 (12MP) and the S1 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the 1 (1/1.7") and S1 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The 1 was manufactured 2 years after the S1 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the 1 grades against the S1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus 1 & Pentax Optio S1. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus 1 Gallery & Pentax S1 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus 1 enjoys physical dimensions of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Pentax S1 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus 1 and Pentax S1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the 1 and the S1.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the 1 and S1 is 79 and 93 respectively.

In many cases, it is difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by checking specifications. The image underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 and S1.

To sum up, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The 1 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax S1 will resolve more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images way more aggressively. The more modern 1 should have an advantage in sensor tech.