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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Replacement is Pentax K-1 II
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was announced 6 years prior to the K-1 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-PL1 matches up vs the K-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax K-1

 E-PL1 K-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus E-PL1

 K-1 E-PL1 
IntroducedFebruary 2016May 2010Newer by 70 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K-1

 E-PL1 K-1 
Manually focus More precise focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 comes with outer dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 has specifications of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the K-1.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and K-1 is 86 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions simply by seeing specs. The picture underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and K-1.

All in all, both of those cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-1 will show greater detail with its extra 24MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
85
manual focus
excellent resolution (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Pentax K-1
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
70
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
great ISO range (204,800)
more heavy than others in class (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-1 Sports photography advice
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent resolution (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
low fps (4.4 fps)
terrible battery life (760 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Pentax K-1
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low battery (290 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
53
weather proofing
excellent resolution (36MP)
terrible battery life (760 per charge)
more heavy than others in class (1,010g)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography features
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery (290 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
81
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent resolution (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (204,800)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
2 card slots
terrible battery life (760 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-1 Vlogging factors
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic socket
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone support
display isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than others in class (1,010g)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax K-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax K-1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2010-05-17 2016-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 36MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 3200 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.7 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lb) 1010 gr (2.23 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 96
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 14.6
DXO Low light score 487 3280
Other
Battery life 290 shots 760 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots One Two
Retail pricing $288 $1,499