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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax P70

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax P70 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
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Released March 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax P70 Overview

Following is a extensive review of the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax P70, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the P70 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and P70 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was launched 15 months after the P70 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-PL1 grades vs the P70 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax P70

 E-PL1 P70 
ReleasedMay 2010March 2009More modern by 15 months

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Olympus E-PL1

 P70 E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax P70

 E-PL1 P70 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys physical measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Pentax P70 has dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax P70 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 versus the P70.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and P70 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by checking out specifications. The pic below should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and P70.

Plainly, both of the cameras posses the exact same MP albeit different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 features the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field easier. The newer E-PL1 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
Pentax P70 Portrait photography info
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography details
Pentax P70 Street photography details
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (155 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Pentax P70 Sports photography advice
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery (290 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery (290 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
56
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (155 grams)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery (290 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
32
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging details
Pentax P70 Vlogging details
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
25
decently wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (155 grams)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax P70
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax Optio P70
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2010-05-17 2009-03-02
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
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 - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech 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 1/1000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 lb) 155g (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
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 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $288 $200