Micro 4/3 EPL1 vs. the Stylus 1-- A unscientific comparison

jennkaotic

New Member
Hello,

I recently got a Stylus 1 and I am on the cusp of deciding if I should keep my old Mu4/3 set up or just keep the Stylus as a addition. I really started wanting a "smaller" camera when I started traveling a lot for work. When I am on a business trip I really can't bring bags of camera gear along. I wanted something that would fit in a purse and give me great photos. The Stylus hit all my must haves. I recently took both cameras with me to the beach. I shot both sets of images on iAuto, in JPG on a tripod. Two images are from the Stylus and two from my EPL-1 with the 25mm Panny Leica lens. I am interested to see which everyone prefers (no fair peeking at the metadata first). Images are straight out of the camera with no editing. Next I think I will do a RAW set.
PC043153.jpg
PC043152.jpg
P1013497.jpg
P1013498.jpg
 
2 and 3, but I think I prefer because there's slightly higher contrast and the building looks sharper. Not knowing what you focussed on, or how the JPEGs have been cooked, that might not mean too much. I'm also on an iPad mini, so that's probably affecting how they appear too.


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From what's on offer I prefer 3. Then again the light and composition in this frame looks best to my eye.
#2 has a weird limited tonal range from what I can see here.
 
it just needs to be more scientific for any real choices to be made
same focal length iso film mode aperture

its possible that what you don't like in an image can be improved in pp so ...
 
Surprisingly little detail difference. Contrast difference yes, but that's a quick change in post.

Noted that the jpegs are only at 500 kilobytes or so. That might be limiting additional detail that the EPL1 might be able to display. If you don't intend on going after additional detail "by all means possible" between the camera and post processing, then I'd say go with what you enjoy shooting more.

Thanks for the "unscientific" comparison. Even though a more controlled comparison might have been made, this does go a long way toward a "first-order" comparison of the two camera's jpeg output. For a "just give me great looking output without too much fuss" shooter, there may be little difference in image quality between the two cameras.

Unless I'm mistaken, the Stylus 1 has the same zoom range as an EPL1 with an Oly 14-150mm zoom attached. It would be interesting to compare sharpness at minimum, midrange, and full zoom.

The EPL1 has more light gathering capability with the 14-150mm zoom because of its larger sensor - regardless of better sounding aperture for the Stylus 1. The following illustrates this (from DPReview)

<img src=http://1.static.img-dpreview.com/previews/olympus-stylus-1/images/apertures-001.png?v=2683>

My guess is the EPL1 with 14-150mm lens falls somewhat above the Canon G1X trace, but below the Stylus 1 trace. As a result, the EPL1 with 14-150mm likely compares reasonably well to newer but smaller-sensored Stylus 1 for low-light capability.

The Stylus has more niceties: smaller (especially compared to EPL1 with EVF and 14-150mm), tilting screen, built-in viewfinder, more "art filters."

I'd say tough choice ...
 
For me the choice would be down to whether you want a camera which is a complete " package " as in a non-detachable lens like the Stylus, or a system like your current E-PL1 with separate lenses. If you already have several lenses , why not consider an upgrade to the E-PL1 body ?
 
#3 is definitely my favorite. #2 would probably be second.
But - to be honest - to run even an "unscientific" comparison, iAuto is the WORST setting to use because it gives no control over what the camera sees (where the AF and exposure is checked) and does with the image.
We would all assume that the EPL1 would produce - especially with one of the better m4/3 lenses - a sharper, more contrasty image. But what you should have done - to make your "unscientific" study mean anything for us and yourself is (1) set up your tripod in the same place for both cameras (or if it is, then the zoom on the Stylus 1 should have only been used at the 50mm equivalent that the Panasonic lens gives you) and more importantly (2) set the cameras with the same settings (mode, ISO, etc.) but anything but iAuto.
Thanks for putting in the effort though.
 
Hmm I looked at this thread a few days ago and thought, that's interesting , that 30-year-old 35mm film P&S is holding up pretty well against the E-PL1.

I wish Olympus wouldn't re-use camera names, it confuses us elder folk ...
 
What I would have liked to have seen is two images from the same vantage. I think its unfair to compare images from different vantage points to decide on camera. I like the 1st and third.
 
3 and 4 for me. I also suspect the first two were shot with your Stylus 1.
After looking at all four images on my retina iPad I agree with you that 3 & 4 were likely shot by the E-PL1 because they are sharper and the colors are warmer. E-PL1 delivers slightly warmer jpegs than the more modern Oly cameras.
 
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