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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10 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
  • Released October 2013
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 II
Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Earlier Model is Pentax Q
  • Successor is Pentax Q7
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and Q10 (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and Q10 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was unveiled 14 months later than the Q10 making them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-M1 grades vs the Q10 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Pentax Q10

 E-M1 Q10 
AnnouncedOctober 2013September 2012More recent by 14 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Olympus E-M1

 Q10 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax Q10

 E-M1 Q10 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys outer 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) while the Pentax Q10 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the E-M1 compared to the Q10.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and Q10 is 71 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to picture the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The graphic underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and Q10.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus E-M1 will resolve extra detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax Q10 Portrait photography highlights
71
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/320 seconds)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW files
48
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Pentax Q10
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts touch to focus
weather sealing
lighter than competition (497g)
good high ISO (25,600)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (200 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography factors
Pentax Q10 Sports photography factors
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
36
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (270 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography features
Pentax Q10 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition (497 grams)
weather sealing
boasts touch to focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
not so great battery (350 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
60
lighter than competition in class (200g)
built-in flash
not so great battery power (270 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Landscape photography camera
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
not so great battery (350 per charge)
54
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (270 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging factors
Pentax Q10 Vlogging factors
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic jack
lighter than competition (497 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (200 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Pentax Q10
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Pentax Q10
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Pentax Q10
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-10-28 2012-09-10
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Available lenses 107 8
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.00 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/320 seconds 1/2000 seconds
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 grams (1.10 lb) 200 grams (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 49
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 21.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 10.9
DXO Low light rating 757 183
Other
Battery life 350 images 270 images
Battery format 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
Price at launch $799 $350