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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax P70

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax P70 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
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-3
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Released March 2009
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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax P70 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus E-5 versus Pentax P70, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the P70 (12MP) is very comparable but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and P70 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

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The E-5 was launched 24 months after the P70 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-5 scores vs the P70 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Pentax P70

 E-5 P70 
ReleasedFebruary 2011March 2009More modern by 24 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Olympus E-5

 P70 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Pentax P70

 E-5 P70 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-5 enjoys external measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Pentax P70 has dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Olympus E-5 versus Pentax P70 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-5 against the P70.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and P70 is 58 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes just by seeing technical specs. The picture here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-5 and P70.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras posses the exact same resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The E-5 uses the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallow DOF easier. The more modern E-5 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax P70 Portrait photography highlights
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography features
Pentax P70 Street photography features
71
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competition (155 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography information
Pentax P70 Sports photography information
59
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Travel photography camera
56
environment sealing
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
56
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (155g)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-5
Landscape photography with Pentax P70
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
two card slots
low MP (12MP)
no Time Lapse recording
32
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax P70 as a Vlogging camera
64
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
includes external mic socket
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
25
pretty wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
heavier than competition (155 grams)
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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Pentax P70
 Olympus E-5Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-5 Pentax Optio P70
Class Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Revealed 2011-02-03 2009-03-02
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800g (1.76 pounds) 155g (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
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 -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Two One
Launch price $1,700 $200