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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-x 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
  • Launched October 2013
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Released December 2009
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-x Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K-x, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and K-x (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and K-x (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was unveiled 3 years after the K-x which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-M1 scores vs the K-x with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 E-M1 K-x 
ReleasedOctober 2013December 2009Newer by 47 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 K-x E-M1 

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

 E-M1 K-x 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 offers outer dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Pentax K-x has measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K-x in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the E-M1 compared to the K-x.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and K-x is 71 and 69 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by looking at technical specs. The image here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and K-x.

As you have seen, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Olympus E-M1 will resolve extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The newer E-M1 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-x
71
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320 seconds)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography factors
Pentax K-x Street photography factors
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers touch to focus
weather proofing
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
Sports photography with Pentax K-x
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (350 per charge)
61
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (1,900 per charge)
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (497g)
weather proofing
offers touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
terrible battery (350 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
54
good battery power (1,900 shots)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-x Landscape photography features
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
terrible battery (350 shots)
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (1,900 CIPA)
small screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-x as a Vlogging camera
36
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone jack
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
27
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K-x
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Pentax K-x
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Pentax K-x
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2013-10-28 2009-12-23
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII Prime
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Max boosted ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 16.00 m
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/320 secs 1/180 secs
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) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lbs) 580 grams (1.28 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 72
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 12.5
DXO Low light rating 757 811
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 1900 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $799 $600