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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced May 2010
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Replaced the Pentax K-30
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax K-50, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1 was launched 4 years earlier than the K-50 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-PL1 grades versus the K-50 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax K-50

 E-PL1 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus E-PL1

 K-50 E-PL1 
AnnouncedNovember 2013May 2010More recent by 43 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K-50

 E-PL1 K-50 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 has got outside measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-50 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax K-50 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL1 vs the K-50.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and K-50 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The photograph here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and K-50.

As you can tell, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-50 will give more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography advice
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
74
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography advice
Pentax K-50 Street photography advice
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
good high ISO (51,600)
no moving screen
more heavy than average in class (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography info
Pentax K-50 Sports photography info
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (290 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
not so great battery life (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography details
Pentax K-50 Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (290 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
56
environment sealing
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
not so great battery life (410 shots)
more heavy than average in class (650 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography info
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (290 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery life (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-50 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic support
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (650 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax K-50
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-05-17 2013-11-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 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 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lb) 650 grams (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 13.0
DXO Low light rating 487 1120
Other
Battery life 290 images 410 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $288 $610