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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax K100D front
Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D 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
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Announced December 2006
  • Newer Model is Pentax K100D S
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D Overview

Here is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K100D, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and K100D (6MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and K100D (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1 was unveiled 3 years later than the K100D and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-PL1 grades vs the K100D with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax K100D

 E-PL1 K100D 
AnnouncedMay 2010December 2006Fresher by 43 months
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k210kCrisper screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Olympus E-PL1

 K100D E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K100D

 E-PL1 K100D 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 comes with outside 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 K100D has sizing of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K100D in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 against the K100D.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and K100D is 86 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing just by seeing technical specs. The visual below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and K100D.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh tougher and the Olympus E-PL1 will provide extra detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The younger E-PL1 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
Pentax K100D Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
51
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
MP count low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography details
Pentax K100D Street photography details
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
58
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
heavier than average in class (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography information
Pentax K100D Sports photography information
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
low battery power (290 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography details
Pentax K100D Travel photography details
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
low battery power (290 shots)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
42
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (660 grams)
MP count low (6 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Pentax K100D Landscape photography features
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
low battery power (290 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
52
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
MP count low (6MP)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Pentax K100D
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
9
no video
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K100D
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax K100D
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax K100D
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-05-17 2006-12-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 660 grams (1.46 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $288 $0