Clicky

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
55
Features
69
Overall
60

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-7 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
  • Announced July 2009
  • New Model is Olympus E-P2
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • Successor is Pentax K-5
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-7, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is pretty comparable but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and K-7 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The E-P1 was launched 2 months prior to the K-7 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-P1 grades against the K-7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax K-7

 E-P1 K-7 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Olympus E-P1

 K-7 E-P1 
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-7

 E-P1 K-7 
LaunchedJuly 2009October 2009Same age
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P1 has got exterior 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) whilst the Pentax K-7 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-7 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-P1 against the K-7.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and K-7 is 86 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements merely by checking out specifications. The visual below may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P1 and K-7.

Plainly, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-P1 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-7 will provide greater detail utilizing its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-7
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
73
focusing manually
MP count good (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-7 Street photography highlights
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
fixed screen
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Sports photography camera
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery (300 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
max fps low (5.0 fps)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Travel photography camera
43
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery (300 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
65
environment proof
MP count good (15 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not offer selfie friendly display
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-7 Landscape photography details
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery (300 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging features
Pentax K-7 Vlogging features
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
25
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
does not offer selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-7
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax K-7
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax K-7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-07-29 2009-10-02
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 15MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4672 x 3104
Highest native ISO 6400 2000
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lbs) 750 gr (1.65 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 61
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 10.6
DXO Low light score 536 536
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 980 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/MMC
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $182 $599