Olympus E-5 vs Pentax E90
58 Imaging
47 Features
76 Overall
58


94 Imaging
33 Features
11 Overall
24
Olympus E-5 vs Pentax E90 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1280 x 720 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
- Launched February 2011
- Replaced the Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- 1280 x 720 video
- 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
- 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
- Launched January 2010

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax E90 Overview
Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus E-5 vs Pentax E90, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the E90 (10MP) is very well matched but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and E90 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor dimensions.

The E-5 was manufactured 13 months later than the E90 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera.
Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-5 scores vs the E90 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax E90 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-5 & Pentax Optio E90. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-5 Gallery & Pentax E90 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Pentax E90
E-5 | E90 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | February 2011 | ![]() | January 2010 | Fresher by 13 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | More precise focusing | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+690k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Easy selfies |
Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Olympus E-5
E90 | E-5 |
---|
Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Pentax E90
E-5 | E90 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Touch display | ![]() | Missing Touch display |
Olympus E-5 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison
When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-5 has exterior dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Pentax E90 has dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).
See the Olympus E-5 vs Pentax E90 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the E-5 vs the E90.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-5 and E90 is 58 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison
Generally, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing just by checking specifications. The visual underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and E90.
To sum up, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-5 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-5 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger E-5 will have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax E90 Specifications
Olympus E-5 | Pentax Optio E90 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Pentax |
Model | Olympus E-5 | Pentax Optio E90 |
Category | Advanced DSLR | Small Sensor Compact |
Launched | 2011-02-03 | 2010-01-25 |
Body design | Mid-size SLR | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | TruePic V+ | Prime |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 3648 x 2736 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 80 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | 3 |
Cross focus points | 11 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 32-95mm (3.0x) |
Maximal aperture | - | f/3.1-5.9 |
Macro focus range | - | 6cm |
Number of lenses | 45 | - |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fully Articulated | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 3" | 2.7" |
Resolution of display | 920k dot | 230k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display technology | HyperCrystal transmissive LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentaprism) | None |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.58x | - |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60 secs | 4 secs |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/8000 secs | 1/2000 secs |
Continuous shutter speed | 5.0fps | - |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 18.00 m (at ISO 200) | 3.50 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in | - |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 1/250 secs | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
Video format | Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Mic 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 | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 800 gr (1.76 pounds) | 145 gr (0.32 pounds) |
Dimensions | 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") | 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 56 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | 21.6 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | 10.5 | not tested |
DXO Low light score | 519 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 870 photographs | - |
Battery format | Battery Pack | - |
Battery model | BLM-5 | 2 x AA |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC, Internal |
Storage slots | Two | Single |
Retail cost | $1,700 | $100 |