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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Pentax K100D front
Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D 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
  • Successor is Olympus E-M5 II
Pentax K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Announced December 2006
  • New Model is Pentax K100D S
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-M5 versus Pentax K100D, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and K100D (6MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and K100D (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was brought out 5 years after the K100D which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-M5 matches up vs the K100D in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Pentax K100D

 E-M5 K100D 
AnnouncedApril 2012December 2006Newer by 66 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution610k210kCrisper screen (+400k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Olympus E-M5

 K100D E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K100D

 E-M5 K100D 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 comes with physical measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Pentax K100D has dimensions of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") along with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 versus Pentax K100D in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 against the K100D.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and K100D is 81 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by going over technical specs. The image below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and K100D.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will offer extra detail having its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The younger E-M5 will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography info
Pentax K100D Portrait photography info
71
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
51
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography information
Pentax K100D Street photography information
82
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides focus via touch
weather sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
58
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
heavier than competitors in class (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography factors
Pentax K100D Sports photography factors
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
lack of phase detect autofocus
47
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography factors
Pentax K100D Travel photography factors
66
weather sealing
provides focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
42
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (660g)
low resolution sensor (6MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Pentax K100D
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
missing Time Lapse function
52
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Pentax K100D
34
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
missing external mic socket
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K100D
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Pentax K100D
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Pentax K100D
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-04-30 2006-12-03
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lbs) 660 grams (1.46 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $799 $0