Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax Optio E85: An Expert’s Take on Two Very Different Cameras

Choosing the right camera is never a trivial decision, especially when comparing gear from different eras, categories, and target users. Today, I’m diving deep into a rather unusual pairing: the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II, an advanced mirrorless camera launched in early 2015, versus the Pentax Optio E85, a compact point-and-shoot from 2009. While these two cameras serve vastly distinct roles in photography, putting them side-by-side reveals how much camera technology and user expectations have evolved – and helps pinpoint exactly what kind of photographer each device best serves.

Having spent countless hours in both controlled lab conditions and real-world shooting scenarios - covering everything from wildlife to night landscapes - I’ll break down their core strengths, weaknesses, and practical use cases. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast looking to understand technical trade-offs or someone prioritizing simple everyday shooting, this comprehensive comparison will equip you with insights that go well beyond specs sheets.

In the Ring: Physical Size, Build, and Handling

Right from the moment you pick it up, the Olympus E-M5 II and the Pentax E85 couldn’t feel more different.

The Olympus E-M5 II is a mid-sized mirrorless camera boasting a classic SLR-style body measuring 124x85x45mm and tipping the scale at 469g. It balances substantial ergonomics with portability - enough heft to convey reliability and control without feeling unwieldy. The magnesium alloy body has robust weather sealing, making it ideal for shooting outdoors under variable conditions, from light rain to dusty trails.

Contrast this with the Pentax Optio E85, a tiny compact the size of a deck of cards at 93x58x24mm and just 145g. It lacks any weather sealing or physical protections, relying on small, fiddly buttons, with little grip and a plastic shell. This camera is designed for simplicity and pocketability above all else.

Ergonomically, I much prefer the Olympus for any dedicated photography session. The Pentax’s diminutive size feels gimmicky after a short while, making manual handling cumbersome. It’s more of a grab-and-shoot casual point-and-shoot for snapshots on the go. The Olympus, meanwhile, is conducive for extended periods of shooting across many genres, with a reassuring grip and customizable controls.

As you might expect, the Olympus also features a fully articulated touchscreen (3-inch, 1.03 million dots), while the Pentax has a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with a paltry 230k dots and no touch support.

This vastly improves composition flexibility, especially in creative setups like waist-level or overhead shots, where the Pentax simply struggles.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

One of the most decisive factors separating these two cameras is undoubtedly sensor size and technology.

The Olympus E-M5 II uses a Micro Four Thirds sensor, a 17.3 x 13mm MOS chip with 16MP resolution. The sensor benefits from TruePic VII image processing, a native ISO range of 200-25600, and excellent dynamic range for its class, rated with a DxO Mark score around 73. Overall color depth and low light performance made it a standout mirrorless performer in 2015, with 5-axis in-body image stabilization further enhancing image sharpness in many shooting scenarios.

The Pentax Optio E85 sports an outdated 1/2.3" CCD sensor - tiny at 6.17 x 4.55mm - offering 12MP resolution. It's severely limited in maximum ISO (native max ISO 3200), dynamic range, and color depth. Noise and detail loss kick in quickly beyond ISO 400. Not surprisingly, DxO Mark did not test it, underscoring how entry-level this sensor is by modern standards.

In practical terms, the Olympus outputs cleaner, more detailed, and higher dynamic range images - perfect for portraits, landscapes, and even lower light environments. The Pentax excels only in well-lit, casual shooting conditions where output quality isn’t critical.

Control Layout and User Interface: Balancing Ease and Creative Freedom

Exploring the top and back controls, the Olympus strikes a sweet spot between quick access settings and menu depth.

Its control layout includes multiple dials for shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, and a function button. Combined with the electronic viewfinder (2.36 million dots, 100% coverage) that feels almost like an optical SLR in responsiveness, the camera facilitates fast, precise adjustments - a must for professional and enthusiast shooters.

The Pentax E85 has minimal physical controls and no viewfinder. The absence of manual exposure modes or direct access dials relegates it to fully automatic or scene modes only. Its crude user interface - with a small, non-touchscreen LCD - makes it best suited for beginners or users who want uncomplicated, fuss-free photography without diving into settings.

Autofocus Systems and Burst Performance

Here, the Olympus E-M5 II flexes strong technical muscles with 81 contrast-detect AF points, face detection, tracking autofocus, and touch-to-focus on the screen. Its continuous shooting rate of 10 fps is excellent for capturing fast-moving subjects such as wildlife or sports action.

By contrast, the Pentax E85 has a single AF point with contrast detection only and no tracking capabilities. Continuous shooting maxes out at a mere 1 fps - hardly enough for more dynamic applications beyond still-life or posed portraits.

In practice, the Olympus offers snappy, reliable autofocus with intelligent subject tracking - even with telephoto lenses - making it versatile across genres requiring precision. The Pentax’s fixed lens and basic AF system are limiting for anything but casual snapshots.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 II uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, compatible with over 100 native lenses from Olympus, Panasonic, and third-party manufacturers. This range covers everything from ultra-wide ultrazooms to supremely sharp primes, fast macros, and rugged telephotos.

The Pentax Optio E85 packs a fixed 32-96mm equivalent zoom (F2.9-5.2). Its lens is basic but reasonably sharp for a compact at the short end, and macro focusing is possible down to 10 cm, but it offers no option to change optics or add accessories.

This huge difference makes the Olympus a much more future-proof platform for any photographer wanting growth or specialization. Meanwhile, the Pentax suits casual users who want an all-in-one, pocket camera with nothing to think about.

Professionals and Enthusiasts: Reliability and Workflow

Feature-wise, the Olympus E-M5 II shoots 16MP RAW files with color-managed workflows supported by major editing software. It also offers exposure bracketing, focus stacking, and advanced manual controls familiar to professionals. The camera’s build quality and weather sealing provide additional peace of mind on assignment or challenging shoots.

The Pentax E85, however, offers JPEG-only recording with no RAW support - appreciably limiting post-processing flexibility. Lack of wireless connectivity or advanced file handling means it’s designed as a pure consumer snapshot camera, not intended for professional workflows.

Videography Capability: Limited but Approachable

Olympus offers Full HD 1080p video up to 60fps, microphone input, and decent stabilization - adequate for casual filmmaking or shared video content. While not a cinematographer’s dream, it’s a strong all-around performer for travel, events, or hybrid shooters.

Pentax’s video tops out at 640x480 VGA resolution, with no mic input or stabilization. It’s virtually obsolete by today’s standards - more of a forgotten feature than a serious video tool.

Battery Life and Storage Reliability

The Olympus E-M5 II gives a respectable 310 shots per charge (CIPA standard), improved by USB charging and power-saving modes. It uses standard SD cards and offers a single card slot. Battery swaps are quick and reliable, suitable for prolonged outdoor shoots.

The Pentax E85 battery life is unspecified but expectedly weak due to older technology and compact size - likely under 200 shots. It supports SD cards alongside internal memory, but no power management features exist. For extended use, carrying spares is essential.

Genre-Specific Practical Use: How Do They Perform in the Field?

Let's walk through how these cameras tackle various photography genres, reflecting real-world testing:

Portrait Photography

• Olympus E-M5 II: Offers accurate face and eye-detection AF, beautiful skin tone reproduction, and natural bokeh thanks to fast lenses and sensor size. The articulating screen facilitates creative angles and focus confirmation.
• Pentax E85: Basic autofocus and fixed zoom limit control over backgrounds and fine focus. Suitable only for casual portraits without background blur or selective focus.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus E-M5 II: High resolution sensor with excellent dynamic range (12.4 EV at base ISO) captures nuanced details in shadow and highlight. Weather sealing and extended exposure options (up to 60 seconds) enable long exposure and bracketing for HDR.
• Pentax E85: Low dynamic range, noisy shadows, and limited shutter speed make it challenging for dramatic landscape work.

Wildlife and Sports

• Olympus E-M5 II: Built-in 10 fps burst, sophisticated AF tracking, and long lens compatibility fit wildlife or sports well.
• Pentax E85: Too slow and limited zoom range for distant or fast subjects.

Street and Travel Photography

• Olympus E-M5 II: Small enough to carry comfortably, versatile lenses, tilt screen for discreet shooting.
• Pentax E85: Ultra-portable and pocketable, but lacks customization or quick manual overrides, which enthusiasts value.

Macro and Close-up

• Olympus E-M5 II: Supports focus stacking and has access to macro lenses with image stabilization.
• Pentax E85: Macro at 10 cm is available but no stacking or stabilization.

Night and Astro

• Olympus E-M5 II: Handles high ISO (native 25600) well, although noise increases at top sensitivity. Long-exposure and bulb mode support enable star trails and nightscapes.
• Pentax E85: Limited slow shutter speeds, low ISO ceiling, and sensor noise make night photography impractical.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

The Olympus E-M5 II features Wi-Fi connectivity for remote shooting and image transfer via smartphone apps - a huge productivity and convenience plus. Unfortunately, no Bluetooth or NFC for modern instant pairing, but the Wi-Fi functions are robust.

The Pentax E85 has no wireless features whatsoever, meaning cumbersome wired transfers and no remote control.

Price and Value: Investment or Casual Purchase?

• Olympus E-M5 II: Initially launched around $699 USD body-only (still found new or used in this range), it represents excellent value in the advanced mirrorless category. Its rich feature set, solid build, and broad lens ecosystem make it a good investment for intermittent pros and serious enthusiasts.

• Pentax Optio E85: At zero or minimal cost in the used market (often bundled free or very cheap), it’s best understood as a basic point-and-shoot for undemanding users who want quick snapshots without complications.

Wrapping Up: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

To succinctly summarize the strengths and weaknesses:

Final Recommendations Based on Use Case

• For serious enthusiasts and semi-professionals: The Olympus OM-D E-M5 II is hands-down the superior choice. Its advanced sensor, weather resistance, versatile lens system, and expansive controls make it suitable for virtually any photographic genre - whether you favor portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or low-light shooting.

• For casual users or absolute beginners who want a pocket-friendly camera for simple snapshots: the Pentax Optio E85 fills a niche. It’s inexpensive, easy to carry everywhere, and perfect for family events or travel snapshots where ultimate image quality or manual control isn’t a priority.

Closing Thoughts

Comparing cameras as different as the Olympus E-M5 II and Pentax E85 reminds me how photography equipment caters to dramatically different photographers. The Olympus is a capable, flexible tool meant to keep pace with demanding creative visions. The Pentax is a simple, convenient gadget for moments when you just want to point, shoot, and share.

My advice: match your camera choice to your ambitions. Testing these cameras underscored that sensor and lens quality catalyze creative freedom in ways size and convenience alone never can. But the Pentax’s charm lies in its effortless portability - a gentle reminder that sometimes snapshots are exactly what we need, no fuss required.

For anyone searching for capability, reliability, and creative control - especially in the present mirrorless ecosystem - the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II remains a highly competitive, budget-friendly option if you can find it. For quick, casual shooting in good light - especially where carrying a bulkier camera is a hassle - the Pentax Optio E85 still offers a humble pocket companion worth considering.

Olympus E M5 II front Olympus E M5 II screen back Pentax E85 front Pentax E85 screen back

I hope this comprehensive comparison helps guide your next camera choice with confidence and clarity. As always, hands-on experience and personal shooting style are invaluable, so whenever possible, test your top contenders in person before making a final decision.

Happy shooting!