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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II Key Specs

Olympus E-P2
(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
  • Revealed April 2010
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-P3
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) feature different sensor size.

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The E-P2 was launched 4 years prior to the K-5 II and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-P2 grades against the K-5 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Pentax K-5 II

 E-P2 K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Olympus E-P2

 K-5 II E-P2 
IntroducedJune 2013April 2010More recent by 37 months
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Pentax K-5 II

 E-P2 K-5 II 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P2 has outer measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 II has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-P2 compared to the K-5 II.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P2 and K-5 II is 86 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing technical specs. The visual below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P2 and K-5 II.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-P2 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-5 II will offer extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older E-P2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography details
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P2
Street photography with Pentax K-5 II
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography features
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography features
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P2
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 II
43
no Timelapse function
terrible battery life (300 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
environment sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography highlights
60
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
79
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Vlogging details
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging details
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone socket
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Pentax K-5 II
 Olympus PEN E-P2Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Pentax K-5 II
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2010-04-22 2013-06-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 lb) 760g (1.68 lb)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 82
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 14.1
DXO Low light rating 505 1235
Other
Battery life 300 shots 980 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $799 $830