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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Pentax K-70 front
Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 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
  • Announced October 2013
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Introduced June 2016
  • Refreshed by Pentax KF
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and K-70 (24MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and K-70 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was unveiled 3 years before the K-70 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-70 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-M1 scores vs the K-70 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Pentax K-70

 E-M1 K-70 
Screen resolution1037k921kCrisper screen (+116k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Olympus E-M1

 K-70 E-M1 
IntroducedJune 2016October 2013Fresher by 31 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K-70

 E-M1 K-70 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 has got outside dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-70 has sizing of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") with a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M1 vs the K-70.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and K-70 is 71 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing specs. The photograph underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and K-70.

All in all, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-70 will show greater detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older E-M1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-70 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/320 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
80
manual focus
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography info
Pentax K-70 Street photography info
78
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
environment sealing
lighter than competition in class (497g)
great high ISO (25,600)
71
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
great high ISO (102,400)
more heavy than competition in class (688g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-70 Sports photography advice
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
low battery power (350 shots)
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Pentax K-70
65
lighter than competition in class (497g)
environment sealing
boasts focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
low battery power (350 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
64
environment sealing
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
low battery pack (410 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (688 grams)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-70
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
low battery power (350 shots)
78
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (102,400)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
low battery pack (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-70 Vlogging highlights
36
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone support
lighter than competition in class (497g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
71
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (688 grams)
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K-70
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Pentax K-70
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Pentax K-70
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-10-28 2016-06-08
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 102400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.63x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
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, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497g (1.10 pounds) 688g (1.52 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 410 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $799 $649