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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Released July 2009
  • New Model is Olympus E-P2
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-30
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Following is a comprehensive review of the Olympus E-P1 versus Pentax K-50, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The E-P1 was brought out 5 years before the K-50 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-P1 matches up against the K-50 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax K-50

 E-P1 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus E-P1

 K-50 E-P1 
LaunchedNovember 2013July 2009More modern by 52 months
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-50

 E-P1 K-50 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 comes with external measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Pentax K-50 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P1 versus Pentax K-50 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-P1 compared to the K-50.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and K-50 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through specifications. The pic below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P1 and K-50.

To sum up, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-50 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography factors
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography factors
Pentax K-50 Street photography factors
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
great ISO range (51,600)
screen does not articulate
more heavy than competitors (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography information
Pentax K-50 Sports photography information
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Travel photography camera
43
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
56
environment proof
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
more heavy than competitors (650g)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography features
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging information
Pentax K-50 Vlogging information
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone support
more heavy than competitors (650g)
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax K-50
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax K-50
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-07-29 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface 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 3:2
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 51600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 grams (0.78 pounds) 650 grams (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 13.0
DXO Low light rating 536 1120
Other
Battery life 300 images 410 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $182 $610