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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Introduced April 2010
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P1
  • Successor is Olympus E-P3
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
  • Introduced July 2013
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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Olympus E-P2 versus Pentax MX-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly close but the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P2 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the MX-1 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-P2 scores against the MX-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Pentax MX-1

 E-P2 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-P2

 MX-1 E-P2 
IntroducedJuly 2013April 2010Newer by 38 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Pentax MX-1

 E-P2 MX-1 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P2 offers external measurements 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 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).

Compare the Olympus E-P2 versus Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-P2 against the MX-1.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and MX-1 is 86 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions just by viewing specs. The pic underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P2 and MX-1.

All in all, the 2 cameras have got the exact same MP but different sensor dimensions. The E-P2 uses the larger sensor which should make getting bokeh less difficult. The more aged E-P2 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P2
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
42
has manual focus
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
65
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P2
Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery power (300 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
good battery life (290 shots)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography details
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography details
43
lack of Timelapse function
low battery power (300 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
61
good battery life (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (391g)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography info
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography info
60
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery power (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
55
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (290 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Vlogging highlights
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging highlights
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
33
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (391g)
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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus PEN E-P2Pentax MX-1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-P2 Pentax MX-1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-04-22 2013-07-01
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options 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 sync 1/180 secs -
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 grams (0.78 pounds) 391 grams (0.86 pounds)
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 score 56 49
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 11.3
DXO Low light score 505 208
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 290 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $799 $400