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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50 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
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-30
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Following is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the K-50 (16MP) is relatively similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 was unveiled 19 months before the K-50 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-M5 scores versus the K-50 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Pentax K-50

 E-M5 K-50 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus E-M5

 K-50 E-M5 
LaunchedNovember 2013April 2012More modern by 19 months
Screen resolution921k610kCrisper screen (+311k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-50

 E-M5 K-50 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 comes with exterior dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the E-M5 compared to the K-50.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and K-50 is 81 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes only by reviewing specs. The pic underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and K-50.

All in all, the two cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-M5 includes the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field more difficult. The more aged E-M5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-50
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
74
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography features
Pentax K-50 Street photography features
82
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features touch to focus
environment proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
above average ISO range (51,600)
no articulating screen
heavier than competitors (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-50 Sports photography advice
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
has no phase detect autofocus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-50 Travel photography factors
66
environment proof
features touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
56
environment proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery power (410 per charge)
heavier than competitors (650g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography factors
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
lack of Time Lapse recording
74
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
not so great battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-50 as a Vlogging camera
34
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing external mic socket
heavier than competitors (650 grams)
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Pentax K-50
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Pentax K-50
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-04-30 2013-11-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
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 51600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 610 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 79
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.0
DXO Low light rating 826 1120
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 410 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $799 $610