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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax MX-1 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 Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Announced October 2019
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Updated by OM System OM-5
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Introduced July 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax MX-1, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 III was released 6 years after the MX-1 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-M5 III grades vs the MX-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Pentax MX-1

 E-M5 III MX-1 
IntroducedOctober 2019July 2013Newer by 77 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k920kCrisper display (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 MX-1 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax MX-1

 E-M5 III MX-1 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 III offers external dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") having a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax MX-1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 III versus the MX-1.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and MX-1 is 80 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 III and MX-1.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 III because of its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus E-M5 III will deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The fresher E-M5 III is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography details
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography details
77
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
42
focusing manually
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography details
Pentax MX-1 Street photography details
83
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports focus by touch
environment proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
65
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than others (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography factors
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high max frames per second (30.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
great battery (290 CIPA)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Travel photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Travel photography camera
77
environment proofing
has bluetooth
supports focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery life (310 shots)
61
great battery (290 per charge)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (391 grams)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography advice
77
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
not so great battery life (310 shots)
55
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
great battery (290 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Vlogging camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Vlogging camera
84
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone port
33
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
heavier than others (391g)
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Pentax MX-1
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2019-10-17 2013-07-01
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 30.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
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 lbs) 391g (0.86 lbs)
Dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 290 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-Li-106
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
Price at launch $1,199 $400