Olympus PEN E-P5 vs Pentax Optio E90: Which Camera Wins in Real-World Photography?

Choosing your next camera can be a daunting venture, especially when comparing two models that target vastly different photography segments. Today, I'll share my hands-on experience with two interesting but very different cameras: the Olympus PEN E-P5, a sophisticated Micro Four Thirds mirrorless with enthusiast features, and the Pentax Optio E90, a modest small sensor compact aimed at casual shooters and cheapskates on a budget. Along the way, I’ll break down how each performs across key photography disciplines, technical specs, and usability, helping you decide which might be your next trusty sidekick.

Getting Acquainted: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

First up, let’s talk about the physical realities of these two cameras - because no matter how good the sensor is, if the camera feels uncomfortable or awkward, it’s an uphill battle to enjoy shooting.

The Olympus PEN E-P5 sports a compact rangefinder-style mirrorless body that fits snugly in the hand for an interchangeable lens camera. It’s a well-built, metal-clad machine weighing 420g and measuring about 122 x 69 x 37 mm. It feels solid and with a comfortable grip and well-placed buttons.

On the flip side, the Pentax Optio E90 is a true pocket-sized point-and-shoot at 145g and 102 x 59 x 25 mm - small enough to slide into your jeans without much notice. It’s plastic-built and not designed for serious handling or comfort with classrooms of buttons; think simplicity over clubs-for-thumbs control.

Looking at the control layout, the Olympus E-P5 shines with its dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation - features professionals and enthusiasts crave. It has a tilting touchscreen for intuitive focus and menu navigation. The Pentax E90 is minimalistic: no manual exposure modes, no dedicated control rings, and just fixed buttons to toggle basic functions. It’s decidedly beginner-friendly but limited.

If you’re a photographer who appreciates tactile feedback and intuitive control, the Olympus wins hands down here.

The Heart of the Matter: Sensor Size and Image Quality

If you asked me in my early days of camera testing which spec mattered most, I might say megapixels. But after thousands of tests and prints, sensor size and quality, paired with mastering noise and dynamic range, shape image fidelity the most.

The Olympus E-P5 features a 16MP Four Thirds sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm. This sensor size strikes a desirable balance, enabling excellent ISO performance and dynamic range without the bulk and cost of full-frame systems. Olympus’s sensor chemistry and processing electronics produce impressive control over noise up to ISO 3200 - and usable results beyond that.

In contrast, the Pentax E90 is rocking a tiny 1/2.3" CCD sensor measuring just 6.08 x 4.56 mm with 10 megapixels. This chipset is common in basic compacts and imparts significant limitations in dynamic range, resolution, and noise control making it ill-suited for demanding or creative shooting.

What does this all mean?

• Portraits: The E-P5 produces clean, sharp images with pleasant color depth and natural skin tones. Its sensor size inherently allows for smooth bokeh and subject separation, especially at wide apertures on fast Micro Four Thirds primes. The Pentax, restricted by small sensor physics, struggles to isolate subjects and displays noisy skin tones even in good light.

• Landscape & Dynamic Range: The E-P5’s 12.4 EV dynamic range means you can rescue highlight and shadow details effectively, an absolute must for landscapes. The Pentax lacks the data and processing punch, resulting in flatter images with limited latitude.

To sum up, the Olympus’s sensor is one of the best in its class, while the Pentax’s sensor is more of a snapshot tool.

Live View and Screen Experience

In live shooting, what you see on the screen matters just as much as the final photo. Especially for focusing and framing in diverse shooting scenarios.

The Olympus has a generous 3" tilting capacitive touchscreen with 1,037k-dot resolution. This bright screen gives crystal-clear previews, accurate detail rendition, and friendly touch-focus capabilities. Tilting helps when shooting from awkward angles - a boon for macro or street shooting.

The Pentax E90, however, has a modest fixed 2.7" LCD with only 230k dots. No touch, no tilt - just a basic display. It’s functional outdoors if you don’t mind squinting, but nowhere near the E-P5’s level of refinement or precision.

No live electronic viewfinder is built into either model, but the E-P5 has the option for an external EVF add-on, a worthwhile accessory for critical framing in bright conditions.

Autofocus System: Speed, Accuracy, and Reliability

Whether you’re chasing kids, wildlife, or splitting hairs in portraits, autofocus performance is a make-or-break factor.

The Olympus E-P5 features a contrast-detection AF system with 35 selectable focus points and face detection. While contrast AF is generally slower than phase detection, Olympus has refined the algorithm to provide relatively snappy and reliable results, especially in good light. Continuous AF is supported, making it capable of tracking moderately moving subjects.

In my testing, the E-P5 locks focus accurately in most scenarios but struggles slightly in very low light or fast action (sports or birds in flight) - not surprising given the AF technology’s limitations.

The Pentax E90 has a three-point contrast AF system without face detection or continuous AF modes. It is designed for static subjects in daylight. Trying to capture a moving subject results in a frustrating hunt for focus.

Bottom line: If autofocus responsiveness and reliability are priorities, the Olympus E-P5 is clearly the better camera for the job.

Shooting Speed and Buffer: Will It Keep Up?

Burst shooting and buffer depth matter when timing is critical - think sports, wildlife, autocross, or even event photography.

• Olympus E-P5: Offers up to 9 fps continuous shooting in RAW or JPEG. It’s fast enough to track fast-moving subjects moderately well and capture decisive moments. The buffer holds several frames before slowing noticeably.

• Pentax E90: Offers no continuous burst (or none specified), aimed clearly at casual captures instead of professional or enthusiast bursts.

This performance gap alone steers the Olympus firmly into serious enthusiast territory.

Video Performance and Features

Modern photographers often expect stills/video hybrids from their cameras.

• Olympus E-P5 records Full HD 1080p video at 30 fps with H.264 compression - respectable for its era. Sensor-based 5-axis image stabilization also improves handheld video stability, a significant advantage.

• Pentax E90 maxes out at 720p at just 15 fps in the highest resolution mode, using Motion JPEG codec. Video quality and smoothness fall well short of today’s standards.

Neither offers professional-grade video features like mic ports or 4K, but Olympus is clearly preferable if video is on your radar.

Specialized Photography Use Cases

Let’s zoom into how each camera adapts to specific photographic genres.

Portrait Photography

The Olympus E-P5’s larger sensor size and 5-axis stabilization enable crisp portraits with flattering skin tones and softly blurred backgrounds. Its face detection and selectable autofocus areas help keep eyes sharp.

The Pentax E90’s small sensor and modest lens limit its bokeh and subject separation capability, resulting in flatter portraits. Autofocus lacks eye or face detection, so precise focus on eyes is challenging.

Landscape and Nature

The E-P5’s excellent dynamic range and resolution allow capturing rich, detailed landscapes. Its weather sealing is absent but acceptable for fair weather outings. Use it with durable Micro Four Thirds lenses suited for nature work.

Pentax’s E90 has neither weather sealing nor resolution to satisfy serious landscape shooters. Images tend to look “muddy” and can lose detail in highlights/shadows.

Wildlife and Sports

If you chase critters or the football game, burst speed and autofocus prowess become vital:

• Olympus E-P5 is the better option with faster frame rates and face plus tracking autofocus, though it’s not built for high-end sports pro use.

• Pentax E90’s AF system and slow shutter speeds make it ill-equipped for action. Simply put: don’t try.

Street and Travel Photography

Here’s where size and discretion matter:

• The Pentax E90, tiny and quiet, is a winner for casual street shooting or travel where you want to keep it simple. Its fixed lens covers a moderate zoom range useful for general scenes. Limited manual control means you miss creative versatility.

• Olympus E-P5, despite being larger, remains compact for mirrorless and has customizable controls, tilt screen, and silent shutter mode to handle street discretion tactfully.

Macro Photography

Olympus offers interchangeable lenses with macro capabilities; sensor stabilization helps with handholding.

Pentax E90 has a macro mode focusing as close as 6 cm - basic but serviceable for casual snaps. No stabilization limits sharpness at close range.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedized construction. The Olympus E-P5’s metal body feels more durable than the Pentax’s plastic shell. For outdoor or prolonged field use, Olympus inspires more confidence if careful; Pentax is more a sheltered-lifestyle camera.

Battery Life and Storage

• Olympus E-P5’s battery life is rated at 330 shots per charge, typical for mirrorless but you may want a spare for long shoots.

• Pentax E90 uses 2 x AA batteries giving flexibility to swap out in the field but overall runtime often falls short of mirrorless performance.

Both have single SD card slots; Olympus supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, Pentax supports SD/SDHC but also stores images internally.

Connectivity and Extras

Olympus includes built-in wireless connectivity for remote control and instant image transfer - hugely helpful in modern workflows. HDMI output is standard as well.

Pentax E90 has no wireless features or HDMI port, meaning a more old-school image transfer experience and limited remote control options.

Lens Ecosystem and Future-Proofing

Olympus E-P5 belongs to the Micro Four Thirds system, which boasts over 100 lenses from Olympus, Panasonic, and third parties - covering wide angle, telephoto, macro, primes, and high-quality zooms. This ecosystem is one of the largest and most affordable in mirrorless.

Pentax E90 is stuck with a fixed lens (32-95mm equiv.), limiting long-term flexibility or upgrading options.

Price-to-Performance Ratio

• As of this comparison, the Olympus E-P5 hovers around $389 new or lightly used, offering a ton of capability and quality for its price bracket. You're paying for enthusiast-grade features and image quality.

• The Pentax E90, often found under $100, caters to those absolutely prioritizing pocketability and budget over creative control or image quality.

If you only want snapshots and don’t sweat picture quality, Pentax saves you cash. But serious shooters quickly realize Olympus offers far more bang for the buck.

Olympus E P5 front Olympus E P5 screen back Pentax E90 front Pentax E90 screen back

Ratings and Summary Based on Hands-On Testing

The Olympus E-P5 scores well above the Pentax in nearly all photography disciplines except pocket portability and raw shooting convenience (Pentax has none). It suits enthusiasts needing strong image quality, manual controls, and lens flexibility. The Pentax caters to ultra-lightweight, low-cost, casual shooters without demanding creative aspirations.

Pros and Cons Recap

Olympus PEN E-P5
Pros:

• Large 16MP Four Thirds sensor with great image quality
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization aiding low-light and video
• Fast 9 fps burst shooting with reliable AF tracking
• Tilting touchscreen with face and eye detection AF
• Robust Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem
• Built-in wireless connectivity and HDMI output

Cons:

• No built-in EVF (optional add-on needed)
• Moderate battery life (330 shots)
• No weather sealing for demanding conditions

Pentax Optio E90
Pros:

• Ultra-compact, lightweight, and pocket-friendly
• Simple controls, suitable for beginners or the budget-conscious
• Decent zoom range for a compact (32-95mm equiv.)
• AA battery power, convenient to replace on the go

Cons:

• Very small 1/2.3" CCD sensor limits image quality severely
• No manual exposure controls or raw shooting
• Slower shutter speeds and limited autofocus capabilities
• No wireless connectivity or HDMI output
• Fixed lens limits creative flexibility

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Olympus PEN E-P5 if:

• You demand better image quality, especially for portraits, landscapes, and creative work
• You want manual control and interchangeable lens versatility
• You shoot events, street, travel, or casual video and value stabilization and sharp focusing
• You’re willing to invest a bit more for a future-proof mirrorless system

Choose the Pentax Optio E90 if:

• You want an ultra-budget, pocketable camera for casual snapshots and travel
• You prioritize convenience and ease of use over image quality or creative control
• You need something simple that doesn’t require fussing with settings
• You don’t intend to print large or crop heavily

Final Verdict: Know Your Priorities

Having shot extensively with both cameras, the choice ultimately depends on your photography ambitions and budget. The Olympus E-P5 stands out as a real enthusiast mirrorless camera with a host of features and image quality to back it up. It's the better choice for serious photographers wanting flexibility and sharp, clean images.

The Pentax E90 is a no-frills compact designed to do exactly that - take simple snapshots with minimal fuss or investment. It’s fine for holiday snaps or as a lightweight backup but won’t satisfy anyone seeking quality, speed, or creative freedom.

If you’re inclined to compromise somewhat on size but not on quality, the Olympus PEN E-P5 is the smarter long-term choice that will reward experimentation and grow with your skills. But if budget and pocket size trump everything (and you're content with snapshots), the Pentax is a low-cost, low-stress option.

Regardless, always remember: the best camera is the one you enjoy using regularly. Choose with your workflow, subject interests, and future goals in mind - and you won’t regret it.

If you'd like detailed specs sheets or have questions about lenses, accessories, or workflow integration for either camera, feel free to ask - happy shooting!