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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K20D

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax K20D front
Portability
59
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K20D 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
  • Launched July 2009
  • New Model is Olympus E-P2
Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Announced June 2008
  • Previous Model is Pentax K10D
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K20D Overview

The following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-P1 versus Pentax K20D, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the K20D (15MP) is relatively comparable but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and K20D (APS-C) possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-P1 was announced 14 months after the K20D which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-P1 scores vs the K20D with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax K20D

 E-P1 K20D 
AnnouncedJuly 2009June 2008Newer by 14 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Olympus E-P1

 K20D E-P1 

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K20D

 E-P1 K20D 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K20D Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-P1 provides 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 K20D has specifications of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P1 versus Pentax K20D in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the E-P1 vs the K20D.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K20D size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and K20D is 86 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K20D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K20D Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions simply by going through a spec sheet. The pic underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P1 and K20D.

Clearly, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-P1 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K20D will produce greater detail with its extra 3MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The younger E-P1 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K20D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K20D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K20D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
71
focusing manually
MP count good (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Pentax K20D
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography factors
Pentax K20D Sports photography factors
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography features
Pentax K20D Travel photography features
43
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
64
weather sealing
MP count good (15 megapixels)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Landscape photography camera
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
screen is small (2.7 inch)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K20D as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic support
9
no video
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K20D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K20D
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax K20D
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax K20D
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-07-29 2008-06-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4672 x 3104
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 gr (0.78 pounds) 800 gr (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 65
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 11.1
DXO Low light score 536 639
Other
Battery life 300 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/MMC/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $182 $700