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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax KP

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax KP front
Portability
61
Imaging
67
Features
76
Overall
70

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax KP 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
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P2
Pentax KP
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 101 x 76mm
  • Announced January 2017
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax KP Overview

In this article, we will be matching up the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax KP, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and KP (24MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and KP (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P1 was brought out 8 years prior to the KP which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax KP being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-P1 matches up against the KP when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax KP

 E-P1 KP 

Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Olympus E-P1

 KP E-P1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2017July 2009More modern by 91 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax KP

 E-P1 KP 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax KP Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 has 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) and the Pentax KP has sizing of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") having a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax KP in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P1 compared to the KP.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax KP size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and KP is 86 and 61 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax KP top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax KP Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to see the difference in sensor sizes only by looking through specs. The pic here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and KP.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax KP will result in more detail having its extra 12MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax KP sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax KP Screen and ViewFinder

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

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax KP Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
80
manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography features
Pentax KP Street photography features
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
76
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
great ISO range (819,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography advice
Pentax KP Sports photography advice
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery life (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/24,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
low battery pack (390 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography features
Pentax KP Travel photography features
43
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery life (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
weather proofing
megapixel count good (24MP)
built-in flash
low battery pack (390 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography information
Pentax KP Landscape photography information
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (300 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (819,200)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
low battery pack (390 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax KP Vlogging highlights
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic port
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic support
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax KP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax KP
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax KP
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax KP
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2009-07-29 2017-01-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 819200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
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 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/24000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355g (0.78 lb) 703g (1.55 lb)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 132 x 101 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 390 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $182 $747