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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Introduced October 2019
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Replacement is OM System OM-5
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-S1
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-M5 III (20MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is pretty similar but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 III was unveiled 4 years after the K-S2 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-M5 III scores against the K-S2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Pentax K-S2

 E-M5 III K-S2 
LaunchedOctober 2019February 2015Newer by 57 months
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 K-S2 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax K-S2

 E-M5 III K-S2 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera, you should consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 III enjoys outer dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-S2 has sizing of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-M5 III compared to the K-S2.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and K-S2 is 80 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by going over specifications. The pic here should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 III and K-S2.

Plainly, the two cameras come with the identical MP albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 III has got the tinier sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult. The more modern E-M5 III provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography factors
77
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
78
you can focus manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Street photography advice
83
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports focus via touch
environment proofing
good high ISO (25,600)
72
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
above average ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than competitors in class (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography info
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography info
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (30.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery (310 per charge)
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (5.4 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Travel photography camera
77
environment proofing
has bluetooth
supports focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery (310 shots)
65
weather proof
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery pack (410 CIPA)
more heavy than competitors in class (678 grams)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography factors
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
not so great battery (310 shots)
77
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging advice
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging advice
84
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external microphone jack
71
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (678 grams)
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPentax K-S2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Pentax K-S2
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2019-10-17 2015-02-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII PRIME MII
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/6000 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0 frames/s 5.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414g (0.91 lbs) 678g (1.49 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 410 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $1,199 $581