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Olympus Stylus 1s Comparison Review

The Olympus Stylus 1s is a fixed lens compact camera that was officially introduced in April 2015 and is equipped with a 1/1.7-inch sensor. It offers a resolution of 11.8 megapixel.

camera

Is the Olympus Stylus 1s a good camera? The Stylus 1s has a Camera Elo of 1871. This rating puts the Stylus 1s among the top 50 percent of all superzoom compact cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (small sensor cameras), the Stylus 1s ranks among the top 40 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 3.5-star performance rating.

Headline Specifications
Olympus Stylus 1s
Fixed lens compact camera
28-300mm f/2.8
11.8 MP, 1/1.7" Sensor
1080/30p Video
ISO 100 - 12 800
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots
Tilting touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second
450 shots per battery charge
116 x 87 x 57 mm, 402 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Olympus Stylus 1s vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Olympus Stylus 1s vs credit card front
Stylus 1s versus credit card top view
Stylus 1s and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Olympus Stylus 1s alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
#   Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus Stylus 1s 116 mm 87 mm 57 mm 402 g 450 n Apr 2015 699ebay.com
2.
 
Canon G5 X 112 mm 76 mm 44 mm 353 g 210 n Oct 2015 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II 116 mm 74 mm 66 mm 553 g 240 n Feb 2014 799ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X70 113 mm 64 mm 44 mm 340 g 330 n Jan 2016 799ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X30 119 mm 72 mm 60 mm 423 g 470 n Aug 2014 599ebay.com
6.
 
Fujifilm X20 117 mm 70 mm 57 mm 353 g 270 n Jan 2013 599ebay.com
7.
 
Fujifilm X10 117 mm 70 mm 57 mm 350 g 270 n Sep 2011 599ebay.com
8.
 
Leica D-LUX Typ 109 118 mm 66 mm 55 mm 405 g 300 n Sep 2014 1,195ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon P7800 119 mm 78 mm 50 mm 399 g 350 n Sep 2013 549ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus Stylus 1 116 mm 87 mm 57 mm 402 g 410 n Oct 2013 699ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic LX100 115 mm 66 mm 55 mm 393 g 300 n Sep 2014 899ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Olympus Stylus 1s was launched in the US market at a price of $699. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

The Olympus Stylus 1s features a 1/1.7-inch sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 4.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Olympus Stylus 1s among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design.

Olympus Stylus 1s sensor measures

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of alternatives.

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Sensor Characteristics
#   Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus Stylus 1s 1/1.7 11.8 3968 29761080/30p20.211.3-11147
2.
 
Canon G5 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.412.347162
3.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II 1.5-inch 13.0 4160 31201080/30p21.510.858158
4.
 
Fujifilm X70 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/60p23.713.0160880
5.
 
Fujifilm X30 2/3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p20.411.2-31249
6.
 
Fujifilm X20 2/3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p20.110.9-46246
7.
 
Fujifilm X10 2/3 12.0 4000 30001080/30p20.511.324550
8.
 
Leica D-LUX Typ 109 Four Thirds 12.7 4112 30884K/30p22.412.160767
9.
 
Nikon P7800 1/1.7 12.0 4000 30001080/30p21.211.720054
10.
 
Olympus Stylus 1 1/1.7 11.8 3968 29761080/30p20.711.617951
11.
 
Panasonic LX100 Four Thirds 12.7 4112 30884K/30p22.312.555367
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The Stylus 1s indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the Stylus 1s can use is 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the Stylus 1s has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 1440k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.58x. The adjacent tables list some of the other core features of the Olympus Stylus 1s along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
#   Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Olympus Stylus 1s1440 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 7.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Canon G5 X2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/2000s 5.9/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon G1 X Mark IIoptional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 5.2/s Y Y
4.
 
Fujifilm X70optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y n
5.
 
Fujifilm X302360 n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
6.
 
Fujifilm X20optical n2.8 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Fujifilm X10optical n2.8 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Leica D-LUX Typ 1092764 n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 11.0/s n Y
9.
 
Nikon P7800921 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 8.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Olympus Stylus 11440 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 7.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Panasonic LX1002764 n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 11.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The LCD screen on the Olympus Stylus 1s is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD can be tilted vertically to facilitate odd-angle shots in landscape orientation. This tilting design is often preferred, for example, by street photographers to a fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment, as it is more unobtrusive during shooting than a screen that flips out to the side.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the Stylus 1s

One convenient feature of the Stylus 1s is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

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Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus Stylus 1s and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
#   Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus Stylus 1sYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
2.
 
Canon G5 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon G1 X Mark IIYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Fujifilm X70Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
5.
 
Fujifilm X30Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
6.
 
Fujifilm X20Ystereo / mono--micro2.0---
7.
 
Fujifilm X10Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Leica D-LUX Typ 109Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
9.
 
Nikon P7800Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
10.
 
Olympus Stylus 1Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
11.
 
Panasonic LX100Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the Stylus 1s offers wifi support. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

The Stylus 1s has a zoom lens built in (6-64mm f/2.8-2.8), which, in full frame equivalent terms, provides a focal length range from 28 to 300mm. The camera is, hence, ready to shoot, while remaining more compact in size than an interchangeable lens camera with an optic that offers similar focal length and aperture specifications.

Further information on the features and operation of the Stylus 1s can be found in the free online Olympus Stylus 1s Manual or on the Olympus support site.

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Expert reviews

While the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the Stylus 1s handle or perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
#    Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus Stylus 1s............ Apr 2015 699ebay.com
2.
 
Canon G5 X5/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II3/5+..77/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2014 799ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X704.5/5....76/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2016 799ebay.com
5.
 
Fujifilm X304/5....76/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2014 599ebay.com
6.
 
Fujifilm X204/5+ +..77/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2013 599ebay.com
7.
 
Fujifilm X10......76/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2011 599ebay.com
8.
 
Leica D-LUX Typ 109........4.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 1,195ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon P78003/5......4/54.5/5 Sep 2013 549ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus Stylus 1..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 699ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic LX1005/5+ +..85/1005/55/5 Sep 2014 899ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Olympus Stylus 1s FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the Stylus 1s.

What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Olympus Stylus 1s?

The camera has a BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.

Which image processing chip is used in the Olympus Stylus 1s to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Olympus equipped the Stylus 1s with the TruePic VI image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Olympus Stylus 1s?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Olympus Stylus 1s?

No, the Olympus Stylus 1s has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Olympus Stylus 1s?

The Stylus 1s offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

Does the Olympus Stylus 1s feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

Which battery does the Olympus Stylus 1s use?

The camera gets its power from the BLS-50 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities with other camera models, just use the search menu below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Olympus Stylus 1s
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 28-300mm f/2.8
    Launch Date April 2015
    Launch Price USD 699
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format 1/1.7" Sensor
    Sensor Size 7.6 x 5.7 mm
    Sensor Area 43 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 9.5 mm
    Crop Factor 4.5x
    Sensor Resolution 11.8 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3 968 x 2 976 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.91 μm
    Pixel Density 27.26 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 12 800 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic VI
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.58x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen
    V-logging Friendliness No front-flip
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Continuous Shooting 7 shutter flaps/s
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support no
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Body Specs
    Battery Type BLS-50 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)450 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 116 x 87 x 57 mm
    (4.6 x 3.4 x 2.2 in)
    Camera Weight 402 g (14.2 oz)

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