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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
77
Features
82
Overall
79

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II 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
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Updated by Olympus E-P2
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Superseded the Pentax K-1
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and K-1 II (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-P1 was revealed 9 years prior to the K-1 II which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-P1 scores versus the K-1 II with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax K-1 II

 E-P1 K-1 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Olympus E-P1

 K-1 II E-P1 
LaunchedFebruary 2018July 2009Newer by 104 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-1 II

 E-P1 K-1 II 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 provides exterior dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 II has measurements of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-P1 versus the K-1 II.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and K-1 II is 86 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specs. The image below may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and K-1 II.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-P1 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-1 II will give more detail because of its extra 24MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-1 II Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
86
has manual focus
great megapixels (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography factors
Pentax K-1 II Street photography factors
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
70
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
above average ISO range (819,200)
heavier than average (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P1
Sports photography with Pentax K-1 II
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
77
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great megapixels (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames/s)
bad battery (670 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-1 II Travel photography advice
43
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
53
weather proofing
great megapixels (36MP)
bad battery (670 per charge)
heavier than average (1,010g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-1 II Landscape photography factors
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
82
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great megapixels (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (819,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
two card slots
bad battery (670 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
Vlogging with Pentax K-1 II
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
does not contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic jack
32
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
heavier than average (1,010 grams)
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-1 II
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-07-29 2018-02-22
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 36MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 6400 819200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF4
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 pounds) 1010g (2.23 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 670 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots 1 Two
Price at launch $182 $1,737