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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 II
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus E-M5 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is very similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The E-M5 was introduced 13 months prior to the K-5 IIs making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-M5 grades versus the K-5 IIs for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 E-M5 K-5 IIs 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 K-5 IIs E-M5 
ReleasedJune 2013April 2012More recent by 13 months
Display resolution921k610kSharper display (+311k dot)

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

 E-M5 K-5 IIs 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 has external dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 IIs has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-M5 against the K-5 IIs.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and K-5 IIs is 81 and 60 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements only by going over technical specs. The visual underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and K-5 IIs.

As you have seen, both of the cameras posses the exact same MP but different sensor measurements. The E-M5 uses the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh more difficult. The older E-M5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography details
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
74
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography highlights
82
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
environment proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography features
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography features
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
lacks phase detect auto focus
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography info
66
environment proofing
comes with focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
no Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
65
weather sealing
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
no Timelapse mode
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging highlights
34
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no external microphone port
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Pentax K-5 IIs
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-04-30 2013-06-04
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 100 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 610k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 9.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 425 gr (0.94 pounds) 760 gr (1.68 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 82
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 14.1
DXO Low light rating 826 1208
Other
Battery life 360 photos 980 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $799 $749