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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K100D S

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Pentax K100D Super front
Portability
65
Imaging
45
Features
38
Overall
42

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K100D S 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
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax K100D S
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 129 x 91 x 71mm
  • Introduced June 2007
  • Replaced the Pentax K100D
  • Replacement is Pentax K200D
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K100D S Overview

In this write-up, we are comparing the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K100D S, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and K100D S (6MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and K100D S (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was introduced 6 years after the K100D S which is quite a sizable difference as far as 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 K100D S being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-M1 scores vs the K100D S with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Pentax K100D S

 E-M1 K100D S 
IntroducedOctober 2013June 2007Newer by 78 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k210kSharper display (+827k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D S over the Olympus E-M1

 K100D S E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K100D S

 E-M1 K100D S 
Focus manually More precise focus
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K100D S Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys physical measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Pentax K100D S has proportions of 129mm x 91mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K100D S in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 vs the K100D S.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K100D S size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and K100D S is 71 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K100D S top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K100D S Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to envision the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading specs. The image below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and K100D S.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Olympus E-M1 will offer greater detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K100D S sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Pentax K100D S
71
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/320 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
51
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
resolution not great (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography factors
Pentax K100D S Street photography factors
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has touch to focus
environment proof
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K100D S as a Sports photography camera
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography features
Pentax K100D S Travel photography features
65
lighter than competitors (497g)
environment proof
has touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
bad battery life (350 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
45
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (6MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K100D S Landscape photography advice
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
52
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
resolution not great (6MP)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging features
Pentax K100D S Vlogging features
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone port
lighter than competitors (497g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K100D S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K100D S
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Pentax K100D Super
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Pentax K100D Super
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2013-10-28 2007-06-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
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 reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 grams (1.10 pounds) 646 grams (1.42 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 129 x 91 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $799 $520