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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Released October 2013
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released September 2011
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and RZ18 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was launched 2 years after the RZ18 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-M1 grades vs the RZ18 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Pentax RZ18

 E-M1 RZ18 
ReleasedOctober 2013September 2011Newer by 26 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Olympus E-M1

 RZ18 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax RZ18

 E-M1 RZ18 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. 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) whilst the Pentax RZ18 has dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 compared to the RZ18.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and RZ18 is 71 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at technical specs. The image underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and RZ18.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-M1 features the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler. The more modern E-M1 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320s)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
36
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography advice
Pentax RZ18 Street photography advice
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
environment sealing
lighter than competitors in class (497 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
lighter than competition in class (178 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography info
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography info
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (350 shots)
47
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Pentax RZ18
65
lighter than competitors in class (497 grams)
environment sealing
comes with touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
not so great battery (350 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than competition in class (178 grams)
weather proof
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (450mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography info
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography info
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery (350 shots)
49
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging advice
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging advice
36
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic support
lighter than competitors in class (497g)
screen is not selfie friendly
30
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (178g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Pentax RZ18
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Pentax Optio RZ18
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-10-28 2011-09-12
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 2.80 m
Flash modes 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, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497g (1.10 lbs) 178g (0.39 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $799 $210