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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Later Model is Olympus E-P2
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Announced May 2012
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Olympus E-P1 versus Pentax K-01, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and K-01 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was introduced 3 years earlier than the K-01 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-P1 scores vs the K-01 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax K-01

 E-P1 K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus E-P1

 K-01 E-P1 
AnnouncedMay 2012July 2009More modern by 34 months
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-01

 E-P1 K-01 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-P1 has outer measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Pentax K-01 has specifications of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P1 versus Pentax K-01 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-P1 compared to the K-01.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and K-01 is 86 and 76 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking technical specs. The picture here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and K-01.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-01 will resolve more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-01 Portrait photography advice
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
heavier than average in class (561g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Sports photography camera
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
no phase detect AF
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (540 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-01 Travel photography advice
43
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
65
good battery power (540 shots)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
heavier than average in class (561 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography factors
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
80
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (540 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-01 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
heavier than average in class (561g)
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-01
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax K-01
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax K-01
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-07-29 2012-05-30
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 81
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 355g (0.78 lbs) 561g (1.24 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.9
DXO Low light rating 536 1135
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 540 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $182 $899