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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax ist DL2 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
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Launched January 2006
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax ist DL2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and ist DL2 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1 was revealed 4 years after the ist DL2 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-PL1 grades vs the ist DL2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax ist DL2

 E-PL1 ist DL2 
LaunchedMay 2010January 2006More modern by 53 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k210kClearer screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus E-PL1

 ist DL2 E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax ist DL2

 E-PL1 ist DL2 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera, you are going to need 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) while the Pentax ist DL2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1 versus Pentax ist DL2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 versus the ist DL2.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and ist DL2 is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by seeing specifications. The picture underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and ist DL2.

Plainly, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Olympus E-PL1 will show more detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more modern E-PL1 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
51
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Pentax ist DL2
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
60
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average (565g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography factors
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
39
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography highlights
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (290 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
52
lighter than average (565 grams)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
resolution not great (6MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography features
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
no Timelapse mode
47
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging advice
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging advice
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone jack
22
lighter than average (565 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video ( pxls)
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax ist DL2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2010-05-17 2006-01-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 5
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 -
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lb) 565 grams (1.25 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 65
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 11.1
DXO Low light rating 487 639
Other
Battery life 290 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $288 -