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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax Q

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
47
Overall
40

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax Q 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
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Updated by Olympus E-P2
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Revealed June 2011
  • Successor is Pentax Q10
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax Q Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax Q, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the Q (12MP) is very comparable but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and Q (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-P1 was unveiled 23 months prior to the Q making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-P1 matches up vs the Q in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax Q

 E-P1 Q 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Olympus E-P1

 Q E-P1 
RevealedJune 2011July 2009More modern by 23 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax Q

 E-P1 Q 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P1 enjoys outer dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") along with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax Q in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-P1 vs the Q.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax Q size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and Q is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax Q top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes just by checking out specifications. The image here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P1 and Q.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got the exact same megapixels but different sensor sizes. The E-P1 includes the larger sensor which should make getting bokeh less difficult. The more aged E-P1 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography features
Pentax Q Portrait photography features
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
45
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/2,000s)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Pentax Q
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (180 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P1
Sports photography with Pentax Q
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking focus
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (230 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax Q as a Travel photography camera
43
does not have Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
57
lighter than competition (180g)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (230 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q as a Landscape photography camera
60
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
51
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (230 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging features
Pentax Q Vlogging features
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone port
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (180g)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic support
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax Q
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax Q
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax Q
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-07-29 2011-06-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Available lenses 107 8
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lb) 180 gr (0.40 lb)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 47
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 20.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.1
DXO Low light rating 536 189
Other
Battery life 300 shots 230 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $182 $695