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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax X-5

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Pentax X-5 front
Portability
65
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax X-5 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
  • Introduced November 2003
  • Replacement is Olympus E-3
Pentax X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Released August 2012
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax X-5 Overview

Following is a extensive review of the Olympus E-1 and Pentax X-5, former is a Pro DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and X-5 (16MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and X-5 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

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The E-1 was revealed 9 years before the X-5 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-1 scores against the X-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Pentax X-5

 E-1 X-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Olympus E-1

 X-5 E-1 
ReleasedAugust 2012November 2003More modern by 106 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"1.8"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution460k134kCrisper display (+326k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Pentax X-5

 E-1 X-5 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax X-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-1 enjoys outside measurements of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Pentax X-5 has dimensions of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") and a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs).

See the Olympus E-1 and Pentax X-5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-1 against the X-5.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax X-5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and X-5 is 59 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax X-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax X-5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor sizes purely by looking at specs. The image below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-1 and X-5.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-1 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax X-5 will give you greater detail because of its extra 11MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged E-1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax X-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax X-5 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 Portrait photography info
Pentax X-5 Portrait photography info
46
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (5MP)
44
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
provides face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography advice
Pentax X-5 Street photography advice
57
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proof
lighter than competitors (735 grams)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than average in class (595g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax X-5 as a Sports photography camera
40
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proof
has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (5MP)
53
amazing zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax X-5 Travel photography highlights
47
lighter than competitors (735 grams)
environment proof
missing Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (5MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
54
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (22mm)
very long reach (580mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (595g)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax X-5 Landscape photography highlights
46
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proof
tiny screen (1.8 inch)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (5 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
47
focusing manually
quite wide (22mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax X-5 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
27
quite wide (22mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
heavier than average in class (595g)
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax X-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Pentax X-5
 Olympus E-1Pentax X-5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-1 Pentax X-5
Type Pro DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2003-11-29 2012-08-22
Physical type Large SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 2560 x 1920 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 22-580mm (26.4x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 1.8 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 134k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 230k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 9.10 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 735g (1.62 pounds) 595g (1.31 pounds)
Dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 330 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - 4 x AA
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/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $1,700 $230