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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Revealed November 2003
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-3
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-S1
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-S2, former being a Pro DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-1 was announced 12 years earlier than the K-S2 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-1 scores versus the K-S2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Pentax K-S2

 E-1 K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus E-1

 K-S2 E-1 
IntroducedFebruary 2015November 2003More recent by 136 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"1.8"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution921k134kClearer display (+787k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-S2

 E-1 K-S2 
Manual focus More exact focus
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-1 has external dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") along with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Pentax K-S2 has sizing of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-S2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-1 against the K-S2.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and K-S2 is 59 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading through specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-1 and K-S2.

All in all, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-1 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will give you greater detail with its extra 15MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older E-1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-S2
46
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
MP count low (5MP)
78
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Street photography camera
57
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
lighter than average (735 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
72
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than others in class (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-1
Sports photography with Pentax K-S2
40
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (5 megapixels)
70
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (5.4 frames/s)
terrible battery life (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography factors
47
lighter than average (735 grams)
environment proofing
lack of Timelapse recording
MP count low (5 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
65
environment sealing
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
terrible battery life (410 per charge)
more heavy than others in class (678 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography factors
46
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
screen is small (1.8")
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (5MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
77
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
terrible battery life (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging factors
9
no video recording
71
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone support
more heavy than others in class (678 grams)
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus E-1Pentax K-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-1 Pentax K-S2
Class Pro DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2003-11-29 2015-02-10
Physical type Large SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - PRIME MII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 2560 x 1920 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 1.8" 3"
Screen resolution 134 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 5.4fps
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, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 735 gr (1.62 lbs) 678 gr (1.49 lbs)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 410 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $1,700 $581