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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Updated by Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-1 II
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-1, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the K-1 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-M1 matches up against the K-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 E-M1 K-1 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 K-1 E-M1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016October 2013More recent by 28 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

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

 E-M1 K-1 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen resolution1037k1037kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 provides physical dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 has dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M1 compared to the K-1.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and K-1 is 71 and 55 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements just by looking at technical specs. The photograph underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and K-1.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-1 will give you more detail due to its extra 20 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older E-M1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

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

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

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-1
71
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/320s)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
85
focusing manually
MP count amazing (36 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography information
Pentax K-1 Street photography information
78
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
includes focus by touch
environment sealing
lighter than average in class (497g)
good ISO range (25,600)
70
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
great ISO range (204,800)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Sports photography camera
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count amazing (36 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames per second)
terrible battery (760 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography info
Pentax K-1 Travel photography info
65
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
environment sealing
includes focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
53
environment proofing
MP count amazing (36MP)
terrible battery (760 per charge)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography factors
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
81
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count amazing (36 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (204,800)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
2 card slots
terrible battery (760 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Pentax K-1
36
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone jack
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone support
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition in class (1,010g)
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K-1
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Pentax K-1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Pentax K-1
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2013-10-28 2016-02-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 25600 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 4.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Flash Auto, 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
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lb) 1010 gr (2.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 96
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 14.6
DXO Low light score 757 3280
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 760 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots 1 2
Retail cost $799 $1,499