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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50 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
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-3
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-30
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50, one is a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-1 was released 11 years before the K-50 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-1 grades against the K-50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Pentax K-50

 E-1 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus E-1

 K-50 E-1 
RevealedNovember 2013November 2003More modern by 121 months
Screen dimensions3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution921k134kCrisper screen (+787k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-50

 E-1 K-50 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-1 provides exterior dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) while the Pentax K-50 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-1 and the K-50.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and K-50 is 59 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes simply by looking through specifications. The picture underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-1 and K-50.

To sum up, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-1 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-50 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 11MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged E-1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Portrait photography camera
46
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
low MP (5 megapixels)
74
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography information
Pentax K-50 Street photography information
57
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
lighter than competitors in class (735 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
great ISO range (51,600)
screen does not articulate
more heavy than average (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-1
Sports photography with Pentax K-50
40
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (5 megapixels)
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
bad battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-1
Travel photography with Pentax K-50
47
lighter than competitors in class (735 grams)
environment sealing
does not have Time Lapse mode
low MP (5MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
56
weather sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
bad battery pack (410 shots)
more heavy than average (650 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography advice
46
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
screen is small (1.8 inch)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low MP (5 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
bad battery pack (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging details
Pentax K-50 Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
28
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than average (650g)
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus E-1Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-1 Pentax K-50
Type Pro DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2003-11-29 2013-11-27
Physical type Large SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 2560 x 1920 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 51600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 1.8" 3"
Screen resolution 134k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
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 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 735g (1.62 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1120
Other
Battery life - 410 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $1,700 $610