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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Released October 2019
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Newer Model is OM System OM-5
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched December 2010
  • Superseded the Pentax K-7
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Olympus E-M5 III versus Pentax K-5, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 III was released 8 years after the K-5 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-M5 III scores against the K-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Pentax K-5

 E-M5 III K-5 
LaunchedOctober 2019December 2010More modern by 108 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k921kClearer display (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 K-5 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax K-5

 E-M5 III K-5 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 III enjoys outer dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 III versus Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 III compared to the K-5.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 III and K-5 is 80 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes only by seeing specs. The pic below may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 III and K-5.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 III due to its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Olympus E-M5 III will provide extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger E-M5 III is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5
77
you can focus manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Street photography camera
83
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
weather sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
no moving screen
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography information
Pentax K-5 Sports photography information
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (30.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (310 shots)
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography advice
Pentax K-5 Travel photography advice
77
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
supports touch to focus
MP count good (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery power (310 per charge)
65
weather proof
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography info
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography info
77
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
terrible battery power (310 CIPA)
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 Vlogging features
84
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external microphone jack
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone port
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax K-5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPentax K-5
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Pentax K-5
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2019-10-17 2010-12-18
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII Prime II
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 121 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 30.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414g (0.91 lbs) 740g (1.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1162
Other
Battery life 310 shots 980 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $1,199 $800