Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax E70
86 Imaging
47 Features
43 Overall
45


94 Imaging
33 Features
11 Overall
24
Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax E70 Key Specs
(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
- Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.4" Fixed Display
- ISO 64 - 6400
- 1280 x 720 video
- 35-105mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
- 175g - 94 x 61 x 26mm
- Released January 2009

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax E70 Overview
Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax E70, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the E70 (10MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and E70 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

The E-PL1 was unveiled 17 months after the E70 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax E70 being a Compact camera.
Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-PL1 scores vs the E70 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax E70 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL1 & Pentax Optio E70. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL1 Gallery & Pentax E70 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax E70
E-PL1 | E70 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | May 2010 | ![]() | January 2009 | Newer by 17 months |
Manual focus | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Display dimension | 2.7" | ![]() | 2.4" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 230k | ![]() | 112k | Sharper display (+118k dot) |
Reasons to pick Pentax E70 over the Olympus E-PL1
E70 | E-PL1 |
---|
Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax E70
E-PL1 | E70 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Missing selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Missing Touch display |
Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax E70 Physical Comparison
When you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 provides external dimensions 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 E70 has measurements of 94mm x 61mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.0") with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs).
Check the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax E70 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1 against the E70.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and E70 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax E70 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing technical specs. The image below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and E70.
As you have seen, both the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 using its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL1 will deliver greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern E-PL1 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax E70 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax E70 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL1 | Pentax Optio E70 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Olympus | Pentax |
Model | Olympus PEN E-PL1 | Pentax Optio E70 |
Type | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Small Sensor Compact |
Released | 2010-05-17 | 2009-01-05 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Truepic V | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12MP | 10MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 3648 x 2736 |
Highest native ISO | 3200 | 6400 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 64 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 35-105mm (3.0x) |
Highest aperture | - | f/3.1-5.9 |
Macro focus range | - | 10cm |
Amount of lenses | 107 | - |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display sizing | 2.7" | 2.4" |
Resolution of display | 230k dot | 112k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Display tech | HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic (optional) | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60 seconds | 4 seconds |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/2000 seconds |
Continuous shutter speed | 3.0 frames per sec | - |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 10.00 m | 3.50 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | - |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 1/160 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) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | 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) | 175g (0.39 lb) |
Dimensions | 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") | 94 x 61 x 26mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.0") |
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 | - |
Battery form | Battery Pack | - |
Battery model | BLS-1 | 2 x AA |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC, Internal |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Retail pricing | $288 | $140 |