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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Below is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax MX-1, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was announced 14 months prior to the MX-1 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-M5 matches up against the MX-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Pentax MX-1

 E-M5 MX-1 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-M5

 MX-1 E-M5 
RevealedJuly 2013April 2012More recent by 14 months
Screen resolution920k610kSharper screen (+310k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax MX-1

 E-M5 MX-1 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys physical dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 against the MX-1.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and MX-1 is 81 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and MX-1.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will produce extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The older E-M5 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography factors
71
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
42
has manual focus
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
82
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus via touch
environment proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
65
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than average (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
does not have phase detect autofocus
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
good battery pack (290 per charge)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography advice
66
environment proof
offers focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
61
good battery pack (290 CIPA)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than average (391g)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Pentax MX-1
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
lack of Timelapse mode
55
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (290 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Vlogging camera
34
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone port
33
decently wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone support
more heavy than average (391 grams)
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Pentax MX-1
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-04-30 2013-07-01
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 610 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425g (0.94 pounds) 391g (0.86 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 49
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 11.3
DXO Low light rating 826 208
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 290 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $799 $400