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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax K20D front
Portability
59
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D 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
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Released June 2008
  • Replaced the Pentax K10D
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the K20D (15MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and K20D (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was unveiled 24 months later than the K20D which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-PL1 scores vs the K20D with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax K20D

 E-PL1 K20D 
ReleasedMay 2010June 2008Fresher by 24 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Olympus E-PL1

 K20D E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K20D

 E-PL1 K20D 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 offers exterior measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Pentax K20D has measurements of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1 versus the K20D.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and K20D is 86 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing just by going over specs. The graphic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and K20D.

All in all, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K20D will deliver extra detail having an extra 3MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-PL1 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography information
Pentax K20D Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
71
manual focus
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography information
Pentax K20D Street photography information
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Pentax K20D
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery power (290 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography features
Pentax K20D Travel photography features
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery power (290 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
64
weather proofing
good MP (15 megapixels)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography details
Pentax K20D Landscape photography details
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery power (290 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
screen is small (2.7 inches)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K20D as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K20D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K20D
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax K20D
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax K20D
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-05-17 2008-06-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 15MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4672 x 3104
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 334g (0.74 lb) 800g (1.76 lb)
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 score 54 65
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 11.1
DXO Low light score 487 639
Other
Battery life 290 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $288 $700