Canon Powershot
S100
 vs
Olympus PEN
E-PM1

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot S110 vs Olympus PEN E-PM1

Canon Powershot S100

69

  
Olympus PEN E-PM1

38

  

Reasons to buy the Canon Powershot S100

Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
GPS
 Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
Usually standard
 
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PM1

Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon S100
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.6 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
 1.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
 Less risk of blur
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 5.5 fps
Help
 More than 80% faster continuous shooting
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Size Slightly smaller 99x60x28 mm vs 110x64x34 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Weight Lighter 198 g vs 263 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.1" vs 1.3"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Canon Powershot S100 Learn more about
the Canon S100

Advantages of the Olympus E-PM1
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Sensor size Larger sensor Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm vs 1/1.8" 7.5x5.5mm
Help
 Around 5.5x larger sensor
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The E-PM1's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Focus points More focus points 35 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Startup delay Less startup delay 1800 ms vs 2400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Battery life Longer battery life 330 shots vs 200 shots
Help
 Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 499 ISO vs 153 ISO
Help
 The E-PM1 has excellent image quality 1.7 f-stops higher ISO than the S100
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 52.0 vs 50.0
Help
 Almost the same
Color depth Better color depth 21 bits vs 20.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
 4x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Olympus PEN E-PM1 Learn more about
the Olympus E-PM1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Powershot S100 Canon Powershot S100
69 vs 38
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PM1 Olympus PEN E-PM1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Powershot S100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro digicam with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Color depth Poor color depth Help
S100:20.7 bits
E-PM1:21 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
S100:50.0
E-PM1:52.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Pro digicam

$398
Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Thickness Is thicker
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the PEN E-PM1
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 - $497 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records even higher-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PM1
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$333
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the XZ-1 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the XZ-1 vs the PEN E-PM1
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$549
Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PEN E-PM1

Canon Powershot S100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot S110

Canon PowerShot S110

Pro digicam

$399
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay Much less startup delay
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the PowerShot S110 vs the Powershot S100
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Overall image quality Better image quality
Supports 24p No 24p support
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the Powershot S100
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$461 - $602
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Powershot S100
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$238 - $269
Zoom More zoom
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Aperture Much narrower aperture
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the Powershot S100
Nikon Coolpix P310

Nikon Coolpix P310

Pro digicam

$159 - $179
Focus points Many more focus points
3D Takes 3D photos
Supports 24p No 24p support
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the Coolpix P310 vs the Powershot S100

Olympus PEN E-PM1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PM1
Olympus PEN E-PM2

Olympus PEN E-PM2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$956 with 14-42mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Touch screen Has a touch screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-PM1
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$270 with 14-42mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-PM1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$514 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PM1
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$325 - $630 with 20-50mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Focus points Fewer focus points
Compare the NX1000 vs the PEN E-PM1

appearance

Canon Powershot S100 Olympus PEN E-PM1
Canon Powershot S100 Olympus PEN E-PM1
Canon Powershot S100 Olympus PEN E-PM1

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