Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RS1500

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RS1500, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

The E-M1 was announced 2 years later than the RS1500 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-M1 scores against the RS1500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Pentax Optio RS1500. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Pentax RS1500 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 features exterior dimensions 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 RS1500 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RS1500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M1 vs the RS1500.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and RS1500 is 71 and 93 respectively.

Quite often, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing simply by going over specs. The photograph underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and RS1500.

All in all, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 will deliver more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The newer E-M1 provides an edge in sensor innovation.