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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Successor is Olympus E-P2
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Released January 2010
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90 Overview

Following is a complete overview of the Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the E90 (10MP) is relatively well matched but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and E90 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The E-P1 was announced 6 months earlier than the E90 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-P1 scores vs the E90 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax E90

 E-P1 E90 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Olympus E-P1

 E90 E-P1 

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax E90

 E-P1 E90 
ReleasedJuly 2009January 2010Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P1 features 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) while the Pentax E90 has proportions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-P1 and the E90.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and E90 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes only by looking at specs. The pic here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and E90.

All in all, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-P1 will give extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax E90 Portrait photography advice
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography details
Pentax E90 Street photography details
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P1
Sports photography with Pentax E90
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
16
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
Travel photography with Pentax E90
43
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery (300 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
50
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (32mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax E90 Landscape photography factors
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (32mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging factors
Pentax E90 Vlogging factors
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
22
wide angle not great (32mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax E90
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax Optio E90
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax Optio E90
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-07-29 2010-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 32-95mm (3.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 6cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 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) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 grams (0.78 pounds) 145 grams (0.32 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $182 $100