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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-S1
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Below is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-S2, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is very comparable but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M5 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the K-S2 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-M5 grades against the K-S2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Pentax K-S2

 E-M5 K-S2 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus E-M5

 K-S2 E-M5 
LaunchedFebruary 2015April 2012More recent by 33 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution921k610kSharper display (+311k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-S2

 E-M5 K-S2 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 offers outer dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-S2 has measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") having a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-S2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 against the K-S2.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and K-S2 is 81 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements simply by going through specifications. The graphic below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and K-S2.

To sum up, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-S2 will provide extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older E-M5 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
78
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20 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-S2 Street photography highlights
82
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus by touch
environment sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
72
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
heavier than others in class (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography features
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography features
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
no phase detect autofocus
70
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
slow frames per second (5.4 frames/s)
low battery (410 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Pentax K-S2
66
environment sealing
offers focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
65
weather proofing
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
low battery (410 shots)
heavier than others in class (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S2
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
lack of Timelapse recording
77
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no low pass filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
low battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Vlogging camera
34
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone jack
71
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic socket
heavier than others in class (678g)
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Pentax K-S2
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Pentax K-S2
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-04-30 2015-02-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 610k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology 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 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 5.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change 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, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s -
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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 Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 pounds) 678 gr (1.49 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 410 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $799 $581