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Canon M vs Pentax K-01

Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
65
Overall
61
Canon EOS M front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Canon M vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Canon M
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 298g - 109 x 66 x 32mm
  • Introduced July 2012
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Introduced May 2012
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Canon M vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Canon M and Pentax K-01, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Canon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the M (18MP) and the K-01 (16MP) is very well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The M was revealed 2 months after the K-01 so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon M being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple summary of how the M scores versus the K-01 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon M over the Pentax K-01

 M K-01 
Display resolution1040k921kCrisper display (+119k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Canon M

 K-01 M 

Common features in the Canon M and Pentax K-01

 M K-01 
IntroducedJuly 2012May 2012Similar generation
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Canon M vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon M provides physical measurements of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-01 has sizing of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") with a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Compare the Canon M and Pentax K-01 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the M against the K-01.

Canon M vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the M and K-01 is 89 and 76 respectively.

Canon M vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Canon M vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at specs. The picture below will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the M and K-01.

All in all, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You should expect to see the Canon M to resolve greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively.

Canon M vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Canon M vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M Portrait photography features
Pentax K-01 Portrait photography features
75
focusing manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW files
74
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon M
Street photography with Pentax K-01
72
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
provides touch focus
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
heavier than competitors in class (561g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon M as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Sports photography camera
54
MP count good (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery power (230 per charge)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery life (540 shots)
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon M Travel photography factors
Pentax K-01 Travel photography factors
63
provides touch focus
MP count good (18 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
65
good battery life (540 CIPA)
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
heavier than competitors in class (561 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon M
Landscape photography with Pentax K-01
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
nice screen size (3")
MP count good (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery power (230 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
80
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (540 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M Vlogging factors
Pentax K-01 Vlogging factors
37
touchscreen
features face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic socket
does not posses selfie friendly screen
heavier than competitors in class (561 grams)
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Canon M vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M and Pentax K-01
 Canon EOS MPentax K-01
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model type Canon EOS M Pentax K-01
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-07-23 2012-05-30
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 5 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 31 81
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF-M Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 23 151
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Clear View II TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 298 grams (0.66 pounds) 561 grams (1.24 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 66 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 65 79
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 12.9
DXO Low light rating 827 1135
Other
Battery life 230 shots 540 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E12 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $510 $899