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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-3
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Announced August 2014
  • New Model is Pentax K-S2
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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-5 and Pentax K-S1, both Advanced DSLR cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and K-S1 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-5 was revealed 4 years before the K-S1 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-5 grades vs the K-S1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Pentax K-S1

 E-5 K-S1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Olympus E-5

 K-S1 E-5 
AnnouncedAugust 2014February 2011Fresher by 43 months
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Pentax K-S1

 E-5 K-S1 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-5 provides outside dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Pentax K-S1 has measurements of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-5 and Pentax K-S1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-5 against the K-S1.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and K-S1 is 58 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizing just by seeing specifications. The photograph below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and K-S1.

To sum up, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-5 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-S1 will produce more detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The older E-5 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
77
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography info
Pentax K-S1 Street photography info
71
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (558g)
good high ISO (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography info
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography info
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second low (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
slow fps (5.4 frames per second)
terrible battery power (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Travel photography camera
56
weather sealing
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
60
lighter than competitors in class (558 grams)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (410 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography features
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
terrible battery power (410 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging info
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging info
64
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
includes mic jack
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (558 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Pentax K-S1
 Olympus E-5Pentax K-S1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-5 Pentax K-S1
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-02-03 2014-08-27
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V+ Prime MII
Sensor type CMOS 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 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 grams (1.76 pounds) 558 grams (1.23 pounds)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 78
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 23.5
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 13.0
DXO Low light score 519 1061
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 410 photographs
Form 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
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Two 1
Pricing at launch $1,700 $339