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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Introduced November 2003
  • Successor is Olympus E-3
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

The following is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-5 IIs, former is a Pro DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The E-1 was launched 10 years prior to the K-5 IIs which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-1 grades against the K-5 IIs with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 E-1 K-5 IIs 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Olympus E-1

 K-5 IIs E-1 
AnnouncedJune 2013November 2003Newer by 115 months
Display size3"1.8"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution921k134kCrisper display (+787k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 E-1 K-5 IIs 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-1 enjoys outer measurements of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 IIs has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-5 IIs in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-1 and the K-5 IIs.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and K-5 IIs is 59 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions just by checking out technical specs. The image underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-1 and K-5 IIs.

As you have seen, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-1 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-5 IIs will provide extra detail utilizing its extra 11 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged E-1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography highlights
46
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
MP count low (5MP)
74
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography information
57
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
lighter than others (735 grams)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 Sports photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography details
40
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (5MP)
79
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography advice
47
lighter than others (735 grams)
weather proofing
lack of Timelapse function
MP count low (5MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
65
environment proofing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography features
46
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
tiny screen (1.8 inch)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (5 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging features
9
can't record video
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic port
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus E-1Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-1 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Pro DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2003-11-29 2013-06-04
Body design Large SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 2560 x 1920 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 1.8 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 134k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - Motion JPEG
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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 735 grams (1.62 lb) 760 grams (1.68 lb)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1208
Other
Battery life - 980 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $1,700 $749