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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Released July 2009
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P2
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax MX-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-P1 was launched 4 years prior to the MX-1 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-P1 grades against the MX-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax MX-1

 E-P1 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-P1

 MX-1 E-P1 
LaunchedJuly 2013July 2009More recent by 47 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax MX-1

 E-P1 MX-1 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P1 comes with outside measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has proportions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-P1 versus the MX-1.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and MX-1 is 86 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading through technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and MX-1.

As you can tell, the two cameras feature the identical MP but not the same sensor measurements. The E-P1 features the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallow DOF easier. The older E-P1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography features
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
42
focusing manually
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Pentax MX-1
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
65
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than average (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery life (290 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography advice
43
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
61
great battery life (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (391g)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography features
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography features
60
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
55
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (290 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging highlights
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
does not have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
33
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
heavier than average (391g)
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax MX-1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax MX-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-07-29 2013-07-01
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 pounds) 391 gr (0.86 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.3
DXO Low light rating 536 208
Other
Battery life 300 shots 290 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $182 $400