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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(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
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-r, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and K-r (12MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and K-r (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 was released 14 months later than the K-r which makes them a generation apart 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-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-M5 matches up versus the K-r with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 E-M5 K-r 
LaunchedApril 2012March 2011More recent by 14 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 K-r E-M5 
Screen resolution921k610kCrisper screen (+311k dot)

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

 E-M5 K-r 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 offers physical measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Pentax K-r has measurements of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

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

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 vs the K-r.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and K-r is 81 and 67 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to see the difference in sensor measurements only by viewing specs. The photograph underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and K-r.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Olympus E-M5 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-M5 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-r Portrait photography highlights
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
63
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Street photography camera
82
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports focus via touch
environment proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography info
Pentax K-r Sports photography info
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
lack of phase detect AF
55
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
slow fps (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-r Travel photography advice
66
environment proof
supports focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
47
built-in flash
terrible battery pack (470 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-r Landscape photography factors
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
no Time Lapse recording
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery pack (470 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-r as a Vlogging camera
34
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no external mic socket
26
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-r
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Pentax K-r
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-04-30 2011-03-11
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 610k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lbs) 598 gr (1.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 72
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 12.4
DXO Low light score 826 755
Other
Battery life 360 shots 470 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $799 $1,100