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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-r 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
  • Successor is Olympus E-P2
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Launched March 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-P1 versus Pentax K-r, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the K-r (12MP) is relatively similar but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and K-r (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P1 was announced 19 months earlier than the K-r which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-P1 grades versus the K-r in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 E-P1 K-r 

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

 K-r E-P1 
LaunchedMarch 2011July 2009Newer by 19 months
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

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

 E-P1 K-r 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P1 enjoys outer dimensions 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-r has dimensions of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

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

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-P1 and the K-r.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and K-r is 86 and 67 respectively.

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

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions just by going over specs. The image here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P1 and K-r.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have the same MP albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-P1 uses the tinier sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult. The more aged E-P1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-r Portrait photography details
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
63
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Pentax K-r
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-r Sports photography factors
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery pack (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
55
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery life (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-r Travel photography highlights
43
missing Timelapse recording
low battery pack (300 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
47
built-in flash
terrible battery life (470 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-r
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery pack (300 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery life (470 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-r as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
does not contain selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
26
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-r
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax K-r
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-07-29 2011-03-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 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, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lb) 598 gr (1.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 72
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 12.4
DXO Low light score 536 755
Other
Battery life 300 photos 470 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $182 $1,100