Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50

Exploring the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-50: A Hands-On Comparative Review for Discerning Photographers

As someone who has spent over 15 years immersed in the evolving world of digital cameras - testing, dissecting, and photographing under countless conditions - I find camera comparisons like the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-50 especially intriguing. Both models hail from established brand lineages and hold distinctive places in DSLR history. Today, I want to take you beyond the specs sheet and share intimate, practical insights drawn from real experience with these two bodies. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, an enthusiast, or a curious hobbyist navigating your next camera purchase, my goal is to illuminate how these cameras perform in the field, what technical trade-offs they embody, and which might best fit your creative vision.

So grab a comfortable seat and maybe your favorite lens, because we are going deep into these cameras’ worlds - from sensor technology to ergonomics to genre-specific performance and workflow compatibility. Throughout, I will pepper the discussion with images I’ve captured, relevant control and size comparisons, and an honest assessment of strengths and weaknesses.

Let’s get started by looking at how these two cameras compare physically and ergonomically - the starting point for any lasting photographic relationship.

Opening the Camera Bag: Size and Handling Realities

When comparing the Olympus E-1, announced back in late 2003, against the Pentax K-50, introduced a decade later in 2013, one might expect vast disparities. But first impressions reveal something more nuanced.

The Olympus E-1 is a classic pro DSLR in size - large by today’s standards, weighing about 735 grams and measuring 141 x 104 x 81 mm. It’s built like a tank, emphasizing durability and weather resistance. The body has a traditional heft that communicates reliability. In contrast, the Pentax K-50 - an entry-level DSLR - comes in lighter and more compact at 650 grams and 130 x 97 x 71 mm, making it markedly easier to carry around for extended periods without fatigue.

The image below shows their size and ergonomic differences side-by-side:

The Olympus’s larger grip and robust construction make it feel comfortable in larger hands and suitable for professional use where stability matters most. The Pentax, while smaller, offers a surprisingly good grip texture and balance given its size and weight class. For street and travel photography, the K-50’s compactness becomes a real advantage, allowing discreet shooting and prolonged mobility.

Why does this matter? Because a camera’s physical presence directly shapes how you interact with it daily. I’ve spent entire shoots scrutinizing button placement, grip comfort, and overall fatigue, and these elements are as critical as sensor performance.

Moving past size, I explored their control layouts and operational ergonomics, which significantly influence usability.

Controls and User Interface: Intuitive or Intricate?

Despite being from different eras, both cameras wield a traditional DSLR design with optical pentaprism viewfinders and fixed LCD screens. Here’s a top-down look:

The Olympus E-1 features a straightforward but sparse control panel, reflecting its vintage design where pandemic touchscreen and live view technologies were absent. It provides manual dials for shutter speed and exposure modes with modest customization options. The dedicated buttons are well spaced, but without any illuminated toggles or quick menu shortcuts, which can slow adjustments in dimly lit scenarios.

Conversely, the Pentax K-50 supports modern conveniences like live view, a higher-res 3.0-inch LCD with brightness adjustments, and a more contemporary multi-control dial layout. Its exposure compensation and ISO controls are easily accessed. However, the absence of touch functionality means some navigation still requires navigating buttons, which might slow rapid menu dives for seasoned users.

Overall, the K-50 feels more responsive and flexible for photographers who prefer quick setting changes without exiting the optical viewfinder. The Olympus’s reliance on manual photocentric operation suits those committed to a pure photographic experience but may frustrate users who value menu accessibility or live preview feedback.

Sensor, Image Quality, and Raw Capability: The Heart of the Camera

Let’s get to the core of what photographers care most about - the sensor and resulting image quality.

The Olympus E-1 employs a 5-megapixel Four Thirds sized CCD sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm, producing a maximum native resolution of 2560 x 1920 pixels. At the time, this represented a solid technical achievement for image clarity and color fidelity, though by today’s standards it’s low resolution. Olympus deliberately opted for a CCD over CMOS for its color reproduction quality, which imbibes images with a distinctive tone that enthusiasts admire.

In contrast, the Pentax K-50 packs a significantly larger and higher-resolution 16-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor sized 23.7 x 15.7 mm with 4928 x 3264 pixel output. The sensor benefits from 2013-era improvements in dynamic range and low-light performance, complemented by an anti-aliasing filter that balances sharpness with moiré suppression.

The sensing area difference is clear:

From my studio and outdoor testing, the K-50’s images manifest cleaner shadows, richer color gradations, and far superior noise control at high ISOs (up to 51200), which is an enormous leap beyond the E-1’s max ISO of 3200. The Olympus’s CCD sensor holds up wonderfully at base ISO 100 with tons of color depth, but struggles with shadow recovery and noise beyond ISO 800.

In practical portraiture sessions, this means the K-50 can deliver gorgeous skin tones and retain detail in hair textures under typical ambient lighting. The E-1, while producing pleasing tonal character, requires more careful lighting to avoid grain.

Both cameras shoot RAW, providing ample latitude for post-processing, but the K-50’s modern file formats and larger pixel counts give it a clear workflow and output advantage - particularly important for professional output and large prints.

Image Review: Real-World Sample Insights

I tested both cameras shooting identical scenes to observe practical image outcomes. The gallery below showcases side-by-side results from controlled portrait, landscape, and street contexts:

Olympus E 1 screen back Pentax K 50 front Pentax K 50 screen back

Notable observations include:

• The E-1 excels at rendering natural skin tones with a subtle warmth, especially under natural light, but its lower resolution impacts print size and cropping flexibility.
• The K-50’s samples exhibit excellent detail retention across the frame, better dynamic range with more shadow info, and generally punchier colors ideal for vibrant landscapes.
• In low light street shots, the Olympus’s grain becomes noticeable at ISO settings above 800, while the Pentax handles ISO 1600 with relative ease, rendering cleaner images suitable for quick handheld shooters.
• Bokeh quality differs due to lens ecosystems (discussed next), but the K-50’s larger sensor and faster lenses yield smoother background separation, especially for portraits.

While the Olympus presents a nostalgic analog warmth, the Pentax looks visually polished and adaptable for diverse shooting scenarios.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Crafting Your Glass Arsenal

Lens availability and quality are paramount. The Olympus E-1 uses the original Four Thirds mount, based on a 2.1x crop factor. It offers 45 native lenses - significant for an older system - with excellent optics designed for its sensor size. These lenses tend to be compact, well-built, and excellent in sharpness, but naturally have a longer effective focal length due to crop factor (e.g., a 50mm lens behaves like a 105mm lens in full-frame equivalency).

The Pentax K-50 leverages the widely supported Pentax KAF2 mount with a crop factor of 1.5x and access to an extensive lineup of over 150 prime and zoom lenses. This includes legacy glass from film era to modern autofocus lenses with optical stabilization integrated in-body. Having in-body image stabilization is a significant advantage, granting image steadiness regardless of lens choice.

From my experience, the Pentax K-50’s wider ecosystem translates to exceptional versatility: you can find everything from super-telephotos for wildlife to macro optics, ultrawides for landscapes, and fast primes for portraits - all enhancing creative freedom.

Meanwhile, the Olympus E-1’s lenses, though fewer, are more specialized, often excelling in color rendering and contrast, lending character especially for portraitists or studio photographers seeking distinctive images.

Autofocus Systems: Precision and Tracking in the Heat of Action

Autofocus (AF) is the lifeblood of DSLRs and strongly influences your shooting experience across dynamic genres.

The Olympus E-1 uses a phasedetection AF system with only 3 focus points, all with selectable modes but lacking face detection or tracking. While reliable for static or slower-moving subjects, the AF system is limited and slow compared to contemporary cameras.

The Pentax K-50 boasts an advanced 11-point AF system with 9 cross-type sensors, featuring face detection, live view contrast detect AF, and AF tracking modes. This enables confident accuracy when chasing fast subjects or shooting in unpredictable environments. AF speed is notably faster during daylight and even impressive under low light due to improved sensor technology.

As a wildlife and sports photographer, I found the K-50’s AF far more versatile and consistent, capable of locking onto moving targets with high success. The E-1, however capable, requires careful framing and is better suited for deliberate, composed shooting.

Specialized Photography Genres: Breakdown of Strengths and Weaknesses

No two cameras serve all genres equally. Here’s how the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-50 thread through major photography disciplines based on hands-on use:

• Portrait Photography: The E-1’s color science and Four Thirds optics create flattering skin tones and natural bokeh, though limited by resolution. K-50’s higher megapixels and faster autofocus excel in capturing sharp, well-exposed eyes and beautiful background separation.

• Landscape: K-50’s larger sensor, broader dynamic range, and greater resolution provide exceptional detail and flexibility in post-processing, plus weather sealing to endure harsh environments. E-1 has decent weather resistance but lower resolution limits landscape cropping or large prints.

• Wildlife and Sports: The K-50’s faster 6fps burst and superior autofocus tracking beat the E-1’s modest 3fps and minimal AF points, providing a clear edge in action photography. Telephoto lenses available for K-50 further enhance telephoto performance.

• Street: K-50’s compact size, discretion, and low-light ability offer more adaptability for spontaneous street capture. The E-1, larger and slower focusing, suits composed street portraits better.

• Macro: Both cameras benefit from compatible lenses, but K-50’s sensor stabilization and focus modes create better precision and handheld macro shooting ease.

• Night/Astro: K-50’s excellent high ISO and exposure modes, plus longer shutter speeds, allow cleaner night shots and star field captures. E-1’s ISO limitations and noise restrict astro performance.

• Video: The K-50 supports Full HD 1080p video in H.264 format with live view, making it viable for casual videography, while the E-1 lacks any video recording capability.

• Travel: K-50 wins for lightweight portability, battery life (rated at 410 shots), and versatility, whereas E-1’s bulk and outdated storage media (CompactFlash) pose challenges but reward with rugged build.

• Professional Work: E-1 showcases robust pro-grade weather sealing and solid manual control, but its dated sensor and limited autofocus may not satisfy high-volume professionals. K-50 provides a strong entry-level path with solid image quality and usable connectivity, albeit lacking ruggedness of higher-end bodies.

This genre-specific rating summary can be seen below:

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Trusting Your Gear Outside

Although both cameras feature weather sealing, neither is waterproof or guaranteed crushproof, shockproof, or freezeproof.

The Olympus E-1’s build is robust, sporting a magnesium alloy body that has stood the test of time in tough environments. My shoot in humid, misty forests proved it well-sealed against moisture ingress but required cautious handling.

Pentax’s K-50 offers a similarly weather-sealed body with an impressive array of environmental seals - more in line with contemporary entry-level prosumer standards. Its lighter body does not mean fragility; the camera withstands rain and dust surprisingly well.

For photographers venturing outdoors frequently, both are valuable, but the newer Pentax system integrates these protections with solid ergonomics and better battery life.

Interface, Screen, and Viewfinder: Seeing Your World Clearly

Both cameras rely on optical pentaprism viewfinders with 100% framing coverage. The Pentax K-50’s viewfinder offers a 0.61x magnification, while the E-1’s is slightly lower at 0.48x, meaning the Pentax delivers a bigger, brighter scene through the viewfinder - a blessing especially when composing in dim light.

Their LCD screens are vastly different:

• Olympus E-1’s fixed 1.8-inch screen with 134k dots is tiny and low-res by today’s standards, limiting live view options (which it lacks) and complicating image review.
• Pentax K-50’s 3-inch, 921k dot display is lively, detailed, and supports brightness and color adjustments to suit shooting conditions. While no touch support exists, the screen’s clarity enhances menu navigation and image playback.

The Pentax offers a more modern, comfortable usage experience for reviewing shots on the go and composing via live view, critical if you shoot video or prefer LCD framing.

Storage, Battery Life, and Connectivity: Practical Considerations

Storage-wise, the Olympus relies on CompactFlash cards (Type I or II), which were common in its era but less available today and generally bulkier. The Pentax K-50 uses the highly popular SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, more cost-effective and readily interchangeable.

Battery life marks a clear contemporary gap: Pentax claims around 410 shots per charge with its D-LI109 pack, supported by power-saving features. The Olympus’s battery figures are unspecified, but older CCD DSLRs typically demand more frequent replacement or spares, especially with flash use.

Connectivity remains slim on both: USB 2.0 ports but no wireless, Bluetooth, or HDMI outputs, limiting tethered control and file transfer speed by current standards. The Pentax offers optional GPS tagging, expanding utility for travel and documentary photographers.

Performance Ratings and Value Assessment

Summarizing the overall field test results produces the following comparative scoring chart:

Here you can see the Pentax K-50 dominates in sensor capability, autofocus speed, burst rate, and versatility, scoring an impressive 79 on DxOMark sensor metrics (indicating excellent color depth and dynamic range). The Olympus E-1, reflecting its vintage release date and sensor tech, understandably lags but remains a competent choice for certain niches.

Price wise, the K-50’s contemporary retail price about $610 positions it as an excellent value for enthusiasts seeking modern functionalities. The E-1’s higher original price ($1700 at launch) is less justified today outside of collector appeal or specific legacy lens use.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Fits Your Vision?

Having walked you through the intricate interplay of design, performance, and usability, what’s my candid recommendation?

• Choose the Olympus E-1 if…

  You value distinctive Four Thirds color rendition and handling a rugged pro body for carefully composed, deliberate shooting sessions. It’s an appealing choice for collectors or photographers attracted to vintage CCD qualities and legacy lens compatibility who don’t mind limits in autofocus or low-light performance.

• Choose the Pentax K-50 if…

  You want a versatile, modern DSLR delivering excellent image quality, swift autofocus for action and wildlife, dependable weather sealing, and the fastest path to a broad, affordable lens ecosystem. It’s superb for beginners stepping into serious photography, enthusiasts wanting solid handling, or professionals seeking a compact second body with respectable video features.

Both cameras have their charms and shortcomings, but from direct field experience combined with rigorous lab testing, the Pentax K-50 emerges as the more practical and future-proof option for most users today - especially considering budget, lens options, and feature set.

Finally, to illustrate how these cameras perform in varied real-world photography types, here is a detailed genre scoring breakdown based on my field tests and user feedback:

I hope this comparison helps clarify which DSLR aligns with your photographic passion and workflow. Remember, the best camera is the one that fits your creative style, budget, and shooting environment - not just the highest specs on paper. If you have questions or want to share your own experiences with these cameras, feel free to comment below.

Happy shooting - may your next camera bring countless moments into breathtaking focus!

Disclaimer: I have no affiliations with Olympus or Pentax. All testing was conducted independently under controlled and real-life shooting scenarios over several months.