Olympus 1s vs Panasonic XS1

Below is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus 1s versus Panasonic XS1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the 1s (12MP) and XS1 (16MP) and the 1s (1/1.7") and XS1 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 1s was revealed 2 years later than the XS1 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 1s being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the 1s scores vs the XS1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus 1s and Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1. The full galleries are provided at Olympus 1s Gallery and Panasonic XS1 Gallery.

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus 1s offers 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) while the Panasonic XS1 has sizing of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") accompanied by a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus 1s versus Panasonic XS1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the 1s against the XS1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the 1s and XS1 is 79 and 97 respectively.

Generally, it's difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by looking through specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 1s and XS1.

All in all, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 1s with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic XS1 will result in greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more recent 1s is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.