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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90 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
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P2
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Launched February 2010
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90 Overview

The following is a thorough overview of the Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the W90 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and W90 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P1 was introduced 7 months earlier than the W90 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax W90 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-P1 grades versus the W90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax W90

 E-P1 W90 
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Olympus E-P1

 W90 E-P1 
LaunchedFebruary 2010July 2009Newer by 7 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax W90

 E-P1 W90 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 provides physical 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 W90 has measurements of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") along with a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-P1 against the W90.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and W90 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to envision the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading through specs. The image underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P1 and W90.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras come with the identical resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-P1 uses the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF less difficult. The more aged E-P1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
27
focusing manually
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
54
environment proof
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography advice
Pentax W90 Sports photography advice
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery pack (300 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
24
environment proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography details
Pentax W90 Travel photography details
43
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (300 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
64
environment proof
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography info
Pentax W90 Landscape photography info
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
37
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
environment proof
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging info
Pentax W90 Vlogging info
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone support
25
decently wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone support
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax W90
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax Optio W90
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2009-07-29 2010-02-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355g (0.78 lbs) 164g (0.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" 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 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $182 $120