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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Introduced October 2013
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

The following is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax MX-1, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 was brought out 4 months after the MX-1 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the E-M1 scores against the MX-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 E-M1 MX-1 
Screen resolution1037k920kSharper screen (+117k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 MX-1 E-M1 

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

 E-M1 MX-1 
LaunchedOctober 2013July 2013Similar age
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 comes with outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-M1 and the MX-1.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and MX-1 is 71 and 84 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions simply by looking at technical specs. The pic below may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and MX-1.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-M1 will give you more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively.

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

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

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/320s)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW files
42
you can focus manually
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Street photography highlights
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports focus via touch
weather proof
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
65
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than others in class (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography highlights
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
terrible battery (350 shots)
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (290 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than others in class (497g)
weather proof
supports focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
terrible battery (350 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
better than average battery pack (290 shots)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (391 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
terrible battery (350 per charge)
55
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (290 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging information
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging information
36
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone socket
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
33
rather wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (391g)
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Pentax MX-1
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-10-28 2013-07-01
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 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, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
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 gr (1.10 lbs) 391 gr (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 49
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 11.3
DXO Low light rating 757 208
Other
Battery life 350 images 290 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $799 $400