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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K10D

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax K10D front
Portability
59
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K10D 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
  • Released May 2010
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax K10D
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 793g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Introduced December 2006
  • New Model is Pentax K20D
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K10D Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K10D, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the K10D (10MP) is fairly close but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and K10D (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was launched 3 years later than the K10D and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K10D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PL1 matches up against the K10D in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax K10D

 E-PL1 K10D 
IntroducedMay 2010December 2006Fresher by 42 months
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k210kCrisper display (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K10D over the Olympus E-PL1

 K10D E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K10D

 E-PL1 K10D 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K10D Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 offers outer measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Pentax K10D has specifications of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") having a weight of 793 grams (1.75 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K10D in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 against the K10D.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K10D size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and K10D is 86 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K10D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K10D Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing purely by researching technical specs. The photograph here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and K10D.

As you have seen, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Olympus E-PL1 will render extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more modern E-PL1 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K10D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K10D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K10D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K10D as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
52
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
resolution not great (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography factors
Pentax K10D Street photography factors
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
64
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Pentax K10D
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (290 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
52
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography details
Pentax K10D Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (290 shots)
low MP (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
49
environment proofing
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Pentax K10D
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K10D as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K10D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K10D
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax K10D
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax K10D
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-05-17 2006-12-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
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 area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Auto Red Eye
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/180 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) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 793 grams (1.75 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 66
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 11.6
DXO Low light rating 487 522
Other
Battery life 290 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/MMC/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $288 $700