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Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-1 II Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(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
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Announced February 2020
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-1
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-M1 III versus Pentax K-1 II, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and K-1 II (Full frame) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 III was announced 24 months after the K-1 II making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-M1 III scores against the K-1 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Pentax K-1 II

 E-M1 III K-1 II 
RevealedFebruary 2020February 2018Newer by 24 months
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Olympus E-M1 III

 K-1 II E-M1 III 
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Pentax K-1 II

 E-M1 III K-1 II 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Display resolution1037k1037kEqual display resolution

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 III enjoys physical measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 II has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 III versus Pentax K-1 II in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 III vs the K-1 II.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-1 II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 III and K-1 II is 67 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-1 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through a spec sheet. The pic below should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 III and K-1 II.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 III having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-1 II will produce extra detail with its extra 16 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 III is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-1 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography features
Pentax K-1 II Portrait photography features
77
manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
86
focusing manually
resolution is high (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Street photography camera
78
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features touch to focus
weather proof
good ISO range (25,600)
70
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
very good ISO range (819,200)
heavier than competition in class (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Sports photography factors
Pentax K-1 II Sports photography factors
81
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (60.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
77
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is high (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames per second)
bad battery power (670 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Travel photography info
Pentax K-1 II Travel photography info
79
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
features touch to focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
53
weather sealing
resolution is high (36MP)
bad battery power (670 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (1,010 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Landscape photography camera
81
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
no low pass filter
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
has dual storage slots
82
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
good sized screen (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is high (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
no low pass filter
very good ISO range (819,200)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
has double storage slots
bad battery power (670 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Vlogging camera
79
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external microphone jack
32
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competition in class (1,010 grams)
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Pentax K-1 II
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIIPentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Pentax K-1 Mark II
Type Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2020-02-11 2018-02-22
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic IX PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 25600 819200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 121 33
Cross focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF4
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/200 seconds
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 PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 580 gr (1.28 lb) 1010 gr (2.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 420 shots 670 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLH-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots 2 2
Pricing at launch $1,800 $1,737