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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax K100D Super front
Portability
65
Imaging
45
Features
38
Overall
42

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S 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
  • Introduced May 2010
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax K100D S
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 129 x 91 x 71mm
  • Announced June 2007
  • Superseded the Pentax K100D
  • Refreshed by Pentax K200D
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S Overview

Following is a thorough comparison of the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and K100D S (6MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and K100D S (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL1 was brought out 2 years after the K100D S which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K100D S being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PL1 matches up versus the K100D S in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax K100D S

 E-PL1 K100D S 
AnnouncedMay 2010June 2007More modern by 36 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k210kCrisper screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D S over the Olympus E-PL1

 K100D S E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K100D S

 E-PL1 K100D S 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys 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) whilst the Pentax K100D S has measurements of 129mm x 91mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-PL1 versus the K100D S.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and K100D S is 86 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes just by checking a spec sheet. The picture here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and K100D S.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus E-PL1 will give greater detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The newer E-PL1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Pentax K100D S
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
51
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low MP (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography features
Pentax K100D S Street photography features
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography information
Pentax K100D S Sports photography information
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery power (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography details
Pentax K100D S Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
low battery power (290 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
45
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
low MP (6MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K100D S Landscape photography factors
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery power (290 shots)
no Time Lapse function
52
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
low MP (6MP)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K100D S Vlogging highlights
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic jack
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K100D S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K100D S
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax K100D Super
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax K100D Super
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-05-17 2007-06-28
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 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
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 2.5 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
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
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 lb) 646g (1.42 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 129 x 91 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $288 $520