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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax H90

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax Optio H90 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax H90 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
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax H90 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax H90, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the H90 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and H90 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1 was launched 4 months after the H90 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax H90 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-PL1 grades against the H90 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax H90

 E-PL1 H90 

Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Olympus E-PL1

 H90 E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax H90

 E-PL1 H90 
LaunchedMay 2010January 2010Similar age
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal display measurements
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax H90 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 features exterior dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Pentax H90 has specifications of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax H90 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 versus the H90.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax H90 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and H90 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax H90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax H90 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizes only by checking specs. The picture here may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and H90.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have the same megapixels but not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL1 has got the larger sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax H90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax H90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax H90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
Pentax H90 Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
27
you can focus manually
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography advice
Pentax H90 Street photography advice
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Pentax H90
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery power (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
31
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography features
Pentax H90 Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
low battery power (290 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
57
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax H90 Landscape photography advice
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery power (290 per charge)
no Timelapse function
36
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging advice
Pentax H90 Vlogging advice
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
28
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax H90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax H90
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax Optio H90
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax Optio H90
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-05-17 2010-01-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
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 - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lb) 153 gr (0.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
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 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $288 $150