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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Launched October 2019
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Newer Model is OM System OM-5
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Launched May 2012
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and K-01 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-M5 III was announced 7 years later than the K-01 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-M5 III scores against the K-01 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Pentax K-01

 E-M5 III K-01 
LaunchedOctober 2019May 2012Fresher by 90 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k921kSharper display (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 K-01 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax K-01

 E-M5 III K-01 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 III offers physical dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") along with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Pentax K-01 has dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") with a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-M5 III vs the K-01.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 III and K-01 is 80 and 76 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizing only by going over a spec sheet. The graphic here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 III and K-01.

Clearly, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 III using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Olympus E-M5 III will deliver more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The younger E-M5 III is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Portrait photography camera
77
focusing manually
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Street photography camera
83
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
environment proofing
good ISO range (25,600)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
heavier than competition in class (561g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography information
Pentax K-01 Sports photography information
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (30.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
not so great battery power (310 shots)
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography factors
Pentax K-01 Travel photography factors
77
environment proofing
supports bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
good resolution (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery power (310 shots)
65
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
heavier than competition in class (561g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography info
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography info
77
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
not so great battery power (310 shots)
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (540 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging features
Pentax K-01 Vlogging features
84
screen is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have external mic jack
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic socket
does not offer selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (561g)
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax K-01
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPentax K-01
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Pentax K-01
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2019-10-17 2012-05-30
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 121 81
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414g (0.91 lb) 561g (1.24 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 1135
Other
Battery life 310 shots 540 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $1,199 $899