Clicky

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D

Portability
68
Imaging
59
Features
93
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Pentax K20D front
Portability
59
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Released September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 III
Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Released June 2008
  • Older Model is Pentax K10D
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and K20D (15MP) and the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and K20D (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-M1 II was released 8 years later than the K20D and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-M1 II grades versus the K20D for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Pentax K20D

 E-M1 II K20D 
ReleasedSeptember 2016June 2008Fresher by 101 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Olympus E-M1 II

 K20D E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Pentax K20D

 E-M1 II K20D 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 II provides exterior measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") along with a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) while the Pentax K20D has sizing of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-M1 II versus the K20D.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 II and K20D is 68 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through specifications. The visual underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 II and K20D.

Plainly, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 II due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Olympus E-M1 II will produce greater detail as a result of its extra 5 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 II should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1 II
Portrait photography with Pentax K20D
75
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
71
manual focus
good MP (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1 II
Street photography with Pentax K20D
78
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch focus
weather proofing
lighter than competition (574 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
no moving screen
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Sports photography advice
Pentax K20D Sports photography advice
74
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (60.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
bad battery (350 per charge)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Travel photography features
Pentax K20D Travel photography features
72
lighter than competition (574 grams)
weather proofing
comes with touch focus
MP count good (20MP)
selfie friendly display
bad battery (350 per charge)
64
environment sealing
good MP (15 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not contain selfie friendly display
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Landscape photography camera
76
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
two card slots
bad battery (350 shots)
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1 II
Vlogging with Pentax K20D
79
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have external microphone socket
lighter than competition (574 grams)
9
can't shoot video
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K20D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Pentax K20D
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIPentax K20D
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Pentax K20D
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2016-09-19 2008-06-25
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 15MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4672 x 3104
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 60.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.10 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 None
Video format MOV, H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 574 gr (1.27 pounds) 800 gr (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 65
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 11.1
DXO Low light score 1312 639
Other
Battery life 350 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLH-1 D-LI50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots 2 Single
Retail pricing $1,700 $700