• 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 10.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600

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Differences

Nikon S1 advantages over Olympus E-PL9

  • Less expensive
    $500 vs $700 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Slower slow-motion
    1200 fps vs 120 fps
    Supports slower slow-mo
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Thinner
    29 mm vs 39 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    323g vs 473g
    Lighter weight
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    60.0 fps vs 8.6 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Olympus E-PL9 advantages over Nikon S1

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    4/3 vs 1 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/60 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Newer
    7 years vs 12 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    1037k vs 460k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • More pixels
    16.1 vs 10.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Slow-motion videos
    Both provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Review Excerpt

The Competition

Compared to Nikon J1

Nikon S1
Nikon J1
  • $199
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • $500
  • 1 inch
  • Wider angle kit lens
Olympus E-PL9
Nikon J1
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $500
  • 1 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • On-sensor phase detect

Compared to Nikon J2

Nikon S1
Nikon J2
  • $199
  • 1 inch
  • $550
  • 1 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • Wider angle kit lens
Olympus E-PL9
Nikon J2
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $550
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Slower slow-motion

Compared to Nikon J4

Nikon S1
Nikon J4
  • $199
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $350
  • 1 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas
Olympus E-PL9
Nikon J4
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $350
  • 1 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • On-sensor phase detect

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Nikon S1
Panasonic GX85
  • $199
  • 1 inch
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic GX85
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Built-in Bluetooth
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter

Compared to Olympus E-PL8

Nikon S1
Olympus E-PL8
  • $199
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $599
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
Olympus E-PL9
Olympus E-PL8
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Shoot 4K video
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $599
  • 4/3
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