Olympus E-5 vs Pentax RS1500
58 Imaging
47 Features
76 Overall
58


93 Imaging
37 Features
30 Overall
34
Olympus E-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- 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
- Previous Model is Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 6400
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
- 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
- Released March 2011

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview
Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-5 versus Pentax RS1500, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is very close but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

The E-5 was released at a similar time to the RS1500 so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.
Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-5 matches up against the RS1500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-5 & Pentax Optio RS1500. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-5 Gallery & Pentax RS1500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Pentax RS1500
E-5 | RS1500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+690k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus E-5
RS1500 | E-5 |
---|
Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Pentax RS1500
E-5 | RS1500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | February 2011 | ![]() | March 2011 | Same age |
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial exact focusing | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Missing Touch display |
Olympus E-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison
If you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-5 features external 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) and the Pentax RS1500 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).
Check the Olympus E-5 versus Pentax RS1500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-5 versus the RS1500.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and RS1500 is 58 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison
Often, it is very difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by viewing technical specs. The image underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and RS1500.
As you can tell, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-5 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Pentax RS1500 will render more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics more aggressively.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications
Olympus E-5 | Pentax Optio RS1500 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Olympus | Pentax |
Model | Olympus E-5 | Pentax Optio RS1500 |
Class | Advanced DSLR | Small Sensor Compact |
Launched | 2011-02-03 | 2011-03-16 |
Body design | Mid-size SLR | Compact |
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 | 12 megapixels | 14 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 4288 x 3216 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 6400 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 80 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | 9 |
Cross focus points | 11 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 28-110mm (3.9x) |
Maximal aperture | - | f/3.5-5.5 |
Macro focus range | - | 1cm |
Total lenses | 45 | - |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fully Articulated | Fixed Type |
Screen sizing | 3 inches | 2.7 inches |
Screen resolution | 920k dot | 230k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Screen technology | HyperCrystal transmissive LCD | TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) | None |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.58x | - |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60 seconds | 4 seconds |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/8000 seconds | 1/1500 seconds |
Continuous shutter speed | 5.0 frames per sec | 1.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 18.00 m (at ISO 200) | 3.90 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 1/250 seconds | - |
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 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Mic jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
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 | 800g (1.76 pounds) | 157g (0.35 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") | 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") |
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 photos | 260 photos |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | BLM-5 | D-LI92 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Storage slots | 2 | One |
Price at release | $1,700 | $150 |