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Olympus E-M10 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
82
Imaging
53
Features
73
Overall
61
Olympus OM-D E-M10 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-M10 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 119 x 82 x 46mm
  • Announced March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M10 II
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
  • Revealed July 2013
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Olympus E-M10 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M10 and Pentax MX-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M10 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the E-M10 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-M10 was brought out 9 months later than the MX-1 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M10 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-M10 grades against the MX-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-M10 MX-1 
RevealedMarch 2014July 2013Fresher by 9 months
Display resolution1037k920kClearer display (+117k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 MX-1 E-M10 

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

 E-M10 MX-1 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M10 provides outer measurements of 119mm x 82mm x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M10 and Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-M10 against the MX-1.

Olympus E-M10 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M10 and MX-1 is 82 and 84 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M10 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing purely by viewing specifications. The photograph underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M10 and MX-1.

To sum up, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M10 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M10 will render extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images far more aggressively. The more modern E-M10 should have an edge in sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M10
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
42
has manual focus
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Street photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Street photography advice
77
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
more heavy than competition (396g)
65
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than others (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery life (290 shots)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M10
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
67
offers touch focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
more heavy than competition (396g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
61
great battery life (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than others (391 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M10
Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
55
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (290 shots)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Vlogging advice
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
33
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone port
more heavy than competition (396 grams)
33
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than others (391g)
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Olympus E-M10 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus OM-D E-M10Pentax MX-1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 Pentax MX-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-03-18 2013-07-01
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (ISO100) 12.00 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1(FULL)~1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 396 gr (0.87 lbs) 391 gr (0.86 lbs)
Dimensions 119 x 82 x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 49
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 11.3
DXO Low light rating 884 208
Other
Battery life 320 shots 290 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec.,custom (Waiting time 1-30sec.,Shooting interval 0.5/1/2/3sec.,Number of shots 1-10)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $600 $400