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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 II 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Launched October 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Successor is OM System OM-5
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Replaced the Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus E-M5 III versus Pentax K-5 II, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 III was introduced 6 years after the K-5 II which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-M5 III matches up versus the K-5 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-M5 III K-5 II 
LaunchedOctober 2019June 2013More modern by 78 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k921kSharper display (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 K-5 II E-M5 III 

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

 E-M5 III K-5 II 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement

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

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 III provides exterior measurements 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 II has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

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

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 III versus the K-5 II.

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

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and K-5 II is 80 and 60 respectively.

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

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

In many cases, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by viewing specs. The pic underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 III and K-5 II.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 III having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Olympus E-M5 III will provide you with extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The younger E-M5 III should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography features
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography features
77
has manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography details
Pentax K-5 II Street photography details
83
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
environment proof
good high ISO (25,600)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography factors
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography factors
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high max frames per second (30.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
bad battery power (310 CIPA)
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography factors
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography factors
77
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
resolution is good (20MP)
selfie friendly display
bad battery power (310 shots)
65
environment proof
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Landscape photography camera
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
bad battery power (310 CIPA)
79
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging info
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging info
84
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic jack
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic support
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax K-5 II
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPentax K-5 II
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Pentax K-5 II
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2019-10-17 2013-06-04
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Prime II
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing 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
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 64 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 121 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
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 rate 30.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes 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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414 grams (0.91 lb) 760 grams (1.68 lb)
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 score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1235
Other
Battery life 310 photographs 980 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $1,199 $830