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Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
71
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Olympus E-600 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Olympus E-600
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 515g - 130 x 94 x 60mm
  • Announced August 2009
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced December 2010
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-7
  • New Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Olympus E-600 and Pentax K-5, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-600 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the E-600 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-600 was brought out 15 months earlier than the K-5 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-600 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-600 scores against the K-5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-600 over the Pentax K-5

 E-600 K-5 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Olympus E-600

 K-5 E-600 
AnnouncedDecember 2010August 2009More recent by 15 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-600 and Pentax K-5

 E-600 K-5 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-600 enjoys outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") having a weight of 515 grams (1.14 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-600 and Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the E-600 versus the K-5.

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-600 and K-5 is 71 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements just by reviewing technical specs. The visual here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-600 and K-5.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-600 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-5 will offer you extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The older E-600 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
73
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-600 Street photography advice
Pentax K-5 Street photography advice
76
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery (500 shots)
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-600 Travel photography features
Pentax K-5 Travel photography features
53
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery (500 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
65
weather proof
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-600 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography info
53
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery (500 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
78
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-600 Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 Vlogging features
18
can't shoot video
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic port
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-600 and Pentax K-5
 Olympus E-600Pentax K-5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-600 Pentax K-5
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-08-30 2010-12-18
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 7 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Fill-in, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - 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 Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 515g (1.14 lb) 740g (1.63 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 82
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 14.1
DXO Low light score 541 1162
Other
Battery life 500 pictures 980 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $0 $800