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Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Pentax Optio P80 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
23
Overall
30

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Introduced February 2020
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax P80
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.6-5.8) lens
  • 125g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Announced August 2009
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and P80 (12MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and P80 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 III was announced 10 years later than the P80 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-M1 III scores against the P80 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Pentax P80

 E-M1 III P80 
AnnouncedFebruary 2020August 2009Fresher by 129 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax P80 over the Olympus E-M1 III

 P80 E-M1 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Pentax P80

 E-M1 III P80 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 III offers physical measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Pentax P80 has measurements of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M1 III and the P80.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 III and P80 is 67 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by looking at technical specs. The visual here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 III and P80.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 III with its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M1 III will give greater detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The newer E-M1 III will have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography highlights
Pentax P80 Portrait photography highlights
77
you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
27
manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Street photography camera
Pentax P80 as a Street photography camera
78
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
55
lighter than others (125 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Sports photography with Pentax P80
81
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (60.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
17
max shutter speed is low (1/1,000 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Travel photography camera
Pentax P80 as a Travel photography camera
79
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
comes with touch focus
good resolution (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
62
lighter than others (125 grams)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax P80 as a Landscape photography camera
81
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
two card slots
32
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Vlogging camera
Pentax P80 as a Vlogging camera
79
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic socket
28
decently wide (28mm)
lighter than others (125g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic jack
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax P80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Pentax P80
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIIPentax Optio P80
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Pentax Optio P80
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2020-02-11 2009-08-05
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic IX Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 64
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 121 9
Cross type focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.6-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 60.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.60 m
Flash modes Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 580g (1.28 lbs) 125g (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 420 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLH-1 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Two One
Pricing at release $1,800 $200