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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
75
Features
52
Overall
65

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Revealed November 2003
  • Replacement is Olympus E-3
Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Announced March 2010
  • Renewed by Pentax 645Z
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax 645D Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus E-1 and Pentax 645D, both Pro DSLR digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and 645D (40MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and 645D (Medium format) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-1 was unveiled 7 years earlier than the 645D and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Large SLR).

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-1 scores vs the 645D with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Pentax 645D

 E-1 645D 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Olympus E-1

 645D E-1 
AnnouncedMarch 2010November 2003Fresher by 76 months
Screen size3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution921k134kSharper screen (+787k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Pentax 645D

 E-1 645D 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-1 has got physical dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) while the Pentax 645D has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") along with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-1 and Pentax 645D in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the E-1 and the 645D.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and 645D is 59 and 50 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizing purely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-1 and 645D.

Clearly, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-1 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Pentax 645D will offer you more detail having an extra 35 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older E-1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 Portrait photography details
Pentax 645D Portrait photography details
46
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
sensor resolution low (5 megapixels)
77
focusing manually
amazing megapixels (40MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography highlights
Pentax 645D Street photography highlights
57
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
lighter than competition (735g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
58
big sensor size (Medium format)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax 645D as a Sports photography camera
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
weather proof
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (5 megapixels)
62
amazing megapixels (40MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery pack (800 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 Travel photography features
Pentax 645D Travel photography features
47
lighter than competition (735 grams)
weather proof
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (5 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
55
environment sealing
amazing megapixels (40 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (800 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography info
Pentax 645D Landscape photography info
46
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
screen is somewhat small (1.8 inches)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (5 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
72
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
amazing megapixels (40MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
no low pass filter
supports RAW files
environment sealing
has double storage slots
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery pack (800 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging factors
Pentax 645D Vlogging factors
9
lack of video recording
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Pentax 645D
 Olympus E-1Pentax 645D
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-1 Pentax 645D
Type Pro DSLR Pro DSLR
Revealed 2003-11-29 2010-03-10
Body design Large SLR Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 5 megapixels 40 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 2560 x 1920 7264 x 5440
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Amount of lenses 45 6
Focal length multiplier 2.1 0.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 1.8 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 134 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/125 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 735 grams (1.62 lb) 1480 grams (3.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1262
Other
Battery life - 800 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC
Storage slots One Two
Retail pricing $1,700 $4,000