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Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
75
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 III
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 410g - 122 x 84 x 50mm
  • Launched August 2017
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M10 II
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M10 IV
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Introduced July 2013
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Olympus E-M10 III versus Pentax MX-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the E-M10 III (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the E-M10 III (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M10 III was manufactured 4 years later than the MX-1 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M10 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-M10 III matches up vs the MX-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 III over the Pentax MX-1

 E-M10 III MX-1 
IntroducedAugust 2017July 2013More recent by 51 months
Display resolution1040k920kClearer display (+120k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-M10 III

 MX-1 E-M10 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 III and Pentax MX-1

 E-M10 III MX-1 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M10 III features outer measurements of 122mm x 84mm x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M10 III versus Pentax MX-1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M10 III vs the MX-1.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 III and MX-1 is 80 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out a spec sheet. The visual below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M10 III and MX-1.

Clearly, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-M10 III featuring a larger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-M10 III will show extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger E-M10 III is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Portrait photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography factors
73
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
42
has manual focus
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Street photography details
Pentax MX-1 Street photography details
77
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
heavier than average in class (410 grams)
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery life (290 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Travel photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Travel photography camera
67
comes with touch focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
heavier than average in class (410g)
display isn't selfie friendly
61
great battery life (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (391 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Landscape photography information
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography information
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
55
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (290 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M10 III
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
32
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic jack
heavier than average in class (410g)
33
rather wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic port
heavier than competition (391 grams)
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 III and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIPentax MX-1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Pentax MX-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2017-08-31 2013-07-01
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.80 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill-in, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 410 grams (0.90 pounds) 391 grams (0.86 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 84 x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 290 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch price $650 $400