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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Old Model is 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
  • Released November 2013
  • Replaced the Pentax K-30
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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) feature different sensor size.

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The E-5 was revealed 3 years earlier than the K-50 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short view of how the E-5 grades against the K-50 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Pentax K-50

 E-5 K-50 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus E-5

 K-50 E-5 
ReleasedNovember 2013February 2011Fresher by 34 months
Screen resolution921k920kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Pentax K-50

 E-5 K-50 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-5 has external measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-5 versus the K-50.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-5 and K-50 is 58 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading specs. The photograph below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and K-50.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-5 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-50 will offer you extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Street photography camera
71
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
good high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
more heavy than competitors in class (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Sports photography camera
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 fps)
low battery pack (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography details
Pentax K-50 Travel photography details
56
weather proof
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
56
weather sealing
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
low battery pack (410 per charge)
more heavy than competitors in class (650g)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography details
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
74
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
low battery pack (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-5
Vlogging with Pentax K-50
64
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
includes external mic socket
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (650 grams)
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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus E-5Pentax K-50
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-5 Pentax K-50
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-02-03 2013-11-27
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V+ PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS 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 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 13.0
DXO Low light score 519 1120
Other
Battery life 870 pictures 410 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 2 Single
Cost at release $1,700 $610