Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K10D

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL1 and Pentax K10D. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PL1 Gallery and Pentax K10D Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.