Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-1
81 Imaging
51 Features
70 Overall
58
55 Imaging
75 Features
82 Overall
77
Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
- Launched April 2012
- Renewed by Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
- 36MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 204800
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
- Revealed February 2016
- Newer Model is Pentax K-1 II
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Following is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-1, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) posses different sensor measurements.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthThe E-M5 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the K-1 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-M5 scores versus the K-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Pentax K-1. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M5 Gallery and Pentax K-1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Pentax K-1
| E-M5 | K-1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Touch display | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus E-M5
| K-1 | E-M5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | February 2016 | April 2012 | More modern by 46 months | |
| Display type | Fully Articulated | Tilting | Fully Articulating display | |
| Display dimensions | 3.2" | 3" | Larger display (+0.2") | |
| Display resolution | 1037k | 610k | Sharper display (+427k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-1
| E-M5 | K-1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus | More exact focus | |||
| Selfie screen | Neither provides selfie screen |
Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison
For those who are planning to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 provides outer measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).
Compare the Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M5 and the K-1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and K-1 is 81 and 55 respectively.
Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading through specifications. The image underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and K-1.
Plainly, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-1 will give more detail having an extra 20MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 is going to be behind in sensor technology.
Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications
| Olympus OM-D E-M5 | Pentax K-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand | Olympus | Pentax |
| Model type | Olympus OM-D E-M5 | Pentax K-1 |
| Class | Advanced Mirrorless | Advanced DSLR |
| Launched | 2012-04-30 | 2016-02-17 |
| Physical type | SLR-style mirrorless | Mid-size SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Powered by | TruePic VI | - |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | Full frame |
| Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 35.9 x 24mm |
| Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 861.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 16 megapixel | 36 megapixel |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
| Peak resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 7360 x 4912 |
| Highest native ISO | 25600 | 204800 |
| Lowest native ISO | 200 | 100 |
| RAW photos | ||
| Lowest enhanced ISO | 100 | - |
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Autofocus touch | ||
| Continuous autofocus | ||
| Autofocus single | ||
| Tracking autofocus | ||
| Autofocus selectice | ||
| Autofocus center weighted | ||
| Autofocus multi area | ||
| Live view autofocus | ||
| Face detect focus | ||
| Contract detect focus | ||
| Phase detect focus | ||
| Total focus points | 35 | 33 |
| Cross type focus points | - | 25 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax KAF2 |
| Number of lenses | 107 | 151 |
| Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1 |
| Screen | ||
| Type of display | Tilting | Fully Articulated |
| Display sizing | 3" | 3.2" |
| Display resolution | 610k dots | 1,037k dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch functionality | ||
| Display tech | Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor | - |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | Electronic | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder resolution | 1,440k dots | - |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | 100 percent |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.58x | 0.7x |
| Features | ||
| Min shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Max shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
| Continuous shutter rate | 9.0 frames per second | 4.4 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual mode | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Custom white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | no built-in flash | no built-in flash |
| Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) | Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync |
| Hot shoe | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Max flash synchronize | 1/250 seconds | 1/200 seconds |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment exposure | ||
| Average exposure | ||
| Spot exposure | ||
| Partial exposure | ||
| AF area exposure | ||
| Center weighted exposure | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) |
| Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Video file format | H.264, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Microphone port | ||
| Headphone port | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | Built-In |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | Built-in |
| Physical | ||
| Environmental sealing | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 425 gr (0.94 lbs) | 1010 gr (2.23 lbs) |
| Physical dimensions | 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") | 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall rating | 71 | 96 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 22.8 | 25.4 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 12.3 | 14.6 |
| DXO Low light rating | 826 | 3280 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 360 images | 760 images |
| Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | BLN-1 | D-LI90 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) |
| Card slots | Single | Dual |
| Retail cost | $799 | $1,499 |