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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Launched June 2011
  • Replacement is Pentax Q10
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus E-M1 versus Pentax Q, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and Q (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and Q (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 was released 2 years later than the Q and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-M1 matches up versus the Q when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Pentax Q

 E-M1 Q 
LaunchedOctober 2013June 2011Fresher by 29 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Olympus E-M1

 Q E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax Q

 E-M1 Q 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 provides outer dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Pentax Q has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M1 versus Pentax Q in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M1 compared to the Q.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and Q is 71 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizing simply by viewing technical specs. The graphic below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and Q.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The more recent E-M1 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography features
Pentax Q Portrait photography features
71
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/320s)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
45
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography highlights
Pentax Q Street photography highlights
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports touch to focus
weather sealing
lighter than average in class (497g)
very good high ISO (25,600)
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (180g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography advice
Pentax Q Sports photography advice
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect AF
not so great battery life (350 per charge)
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (230 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography details
Pentax Q Travel photography details
65
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
weather sealing
supports touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
not so great battery life (350 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
57
lighter than competitors (180g)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low battery power (230 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax Q Landscape photography highlights
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
not so great battery life (350 per charge)
51
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (230 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Pentax Q
36
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic port
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (180 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic port
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Pentax Q
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Pentax Q
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Pentax Q
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-10-28 2011-06-23
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Number of lenses 107 8
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 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, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/320 secs 1/2000 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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 gr (1.10 lb) 180 gr (0.40 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 47
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 20.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 11.1
DXO Low light rating 757 189
Other
Battery life 350 shots 230 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI68
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 launch $799 $695