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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax Q-S1 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
  • Revealed October 2019
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Successor is OM System OM-5
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Launched August 2014
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Below is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax Q-S1, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and Q-S1 (1/1.7") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 III was launched 5 years later than the Q-S1 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-M5 III scores against the Q-S1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Pentax Q-S1

 E-M5 III Q-S1 
LaunchedOctober 2019August 2014More recent by 64 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 Q-S1 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax Q-S1

 E-M5 III Q-S1 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 III provides physical measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") having a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Pentax Q-S1 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax Q-S1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-M5 III compared to the Q-S1.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and Q-S1 is 80 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to imagine the gap in sensor measurements simply by going through technical specs. The visual here might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 III and Q-S1.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 III because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 III will provide greater detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-M5 III provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography features
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography features
77
manual focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
46
has manual focus
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Street photography camera
83
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts touch focus
weather proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (203 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography features
Pentax Q-S1 Sports photography features
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (30.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
not so great battery (310 shots)
37
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking focus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
bad battery life (250 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Travel photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Travel photography camera
77
weather proof
has bluetooth
boasts touch focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery (310 CIPA)
60
lighter than competitors in class (203g)
built-in flash
bad battery life (250 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography highlights
Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography highlights
77
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
not so great battery (310 CIPA)
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
bad battery life (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Vlogging camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Vlogging camera
84
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
includes microphone socket
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (203 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPentax Q-S1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Pentax Q-S1
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2019-10-17 2014-08-04
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Q Engine
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor 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 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Available lenses 107 8
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter speed 30.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s -
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, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414g (0.91 lb) 203g (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 photos 250 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Price at release $1,199 $250