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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D S

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Pentax K100D Super front
Portability
65
Imaging
45
Features
38
Overall
42

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D S 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
  • Released April 2012
  • Successor is Olympus E-M5 II
Pentax K100D S
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 129 x 91 x 71mm
  • Introduced June 2007
  • Older Model is Pentax K100D
  • Renewed by Pentax K200D
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D S Overview

Here is a extended review of the Olympus E-M5 versus Pentax K100D S, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and K100D S (6MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and K100D S (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M5 was manufactured 4 years later than the K100D S and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K100D S being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-M5 scores vs the K100D S in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Pentax K100D S

 E-M5 K100D S 
IntroducedApril 2012June 2007Fresher by 59 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution610k210kCrisper display (+400k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D S over the Olympus E-M5

 K100D S E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K100D S

 E-M5 K100D S 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D S Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 provides outside measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Pentax K100D S has specifications of 129mm x 91mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

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

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 and the K100D S.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D S size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and K100D S is 81 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D S top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D S Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to see the difference in sensor sizing simply by going through specifications. The visual here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and K100D S.

To sum up, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Olympus E-M5 will provide more detail due to its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images more aggressively. The younger E-M5 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D S sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography info
Pentax K100D S Portrait photography info
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
51
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography details
Pentax K100D S Street photography details
82
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides focus via touch
environment proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
64
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K100D S as a Sports photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
lacks phase detect AF
47
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K100D S as a Travel photography camera
66
environment proof
provides focus via touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
no Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
45
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography info
Pentax K100D S Landscape photography info
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
no Timelapse mode
52
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K100D S as a Vlogging camera
34
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone socket
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K100D S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K100D S
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Pentax K100D Super
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Pentax K100D Super
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-04-30 2007-06-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.5 inches
Screen resolution 610k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder 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 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated 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
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 grams (0.94 pounds) 646 grams (1.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 129 x 91 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" 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 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $799 $520