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Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
75
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax Q-S1 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
  • Announced August 2017
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M10 II
  • Successor is Olympus E-M10 IV
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Launched August 2014
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-M10 III and Pentax Q-S1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the E-M10 III (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the E-M10 III (Four Thirds) and Q-S1 (1/1.7") provide different sensor size.

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The E-M10 III was brought out 3 years after the Q-S1 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M10 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-M10 III matches up vs the Q-S1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 III over the Pentax Q-S1

 E-M10 III Q-S1 
LaunchedAugust 2017August 2014Newer by 38 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus E-M10 III

 Q-S1 E-M10 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 III and Pentax Q-S1

 E-M10 III Q-S1 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M10 III has exterior dimensions of 122mm x 84mm x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q-S1 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M10 III and Pentax Q-S1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M10 III and the Q-S1.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 III and Q-S1 is 80 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions just by going over technical specs. The image below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M10 III and Q-S1.

As you have seen, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M10 III due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-M10 III will offer extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The fresher E-M10 III provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Portrait photography camera
73
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
46
focusing manually
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Street photography features
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography features
77
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
heavier than competition in class (410g)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (203 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/1.7")
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Sports photography details
Pentax Q-S1 Sports photography details
69
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
37
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
terrible battery (250 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Travel photography factors
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography factors
67
includes focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
heavier than competition in class (410g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
60
lighter than competition in class (203g)
flash built-in
terrible battery (250 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Landscape photography camera
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
terrible battery (250 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Vlogging information
Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging information
32
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing mic support
heavier than competition in class (410 grams)
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (203g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 III and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIPentax Q-S1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Pentax Q-S1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2017-08-31 2014-08-04
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Q Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Available lenses 107 8
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.80 m (at ISO 100) 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill-in, manual, off Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
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 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 410 gr (0.90 lbs) 203 gr (0.45 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 84 x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 250 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $650 $250