Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-r

Olympus E-PL1s vs. Pentax K-r: A Hands-On Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

When it comes to entry-level cameras with distinct personalities, the Olympus PEN E-PL1s and the Pentax K-r offer two very different paths for photographers at similar stages of their journey. I’ve spent substantial hands-on time with both, pushing each through real-world scenarios ranging from casual travel snaps to semi-professional portraits and even some wet-weather landscape sessions. This detailed comparison draws on my experience with thousands of cameras and lenses over the years, aiming to untangle their specs, performance, and practical usability to help you make a highly informed choice.

Let’s get started by placing these two contenders side by side.

Design and Handling: Mirrorless Minimalism vs. DSLR Substance

The Olympus E-PL1s is a classic rangefinder-style mirrorless camera with an emphasis on portability, weighing in at a light 334 grams and measuring a compact 115 x 72 x 42 mm. It’s perfect if pocketability and street-friendliness matter most to you. The E-PL1s’s fixed 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD gives decent viewing clarity, but the smaller screen and minimal external controls mean it can feel a bit barebones once you move past casual photography - not quite designed for rapid-fire adjustments.

In contrast, the Pentax K-r is a more traditional compact DSLR, measuring 125 x 97 x 68 mm and weighing 598 grams, noticeably more substantial in hand. It sports a larger 3-inch 921k-dot TFT LCD, which is a pleasure for image review and menu navigation. The K-r’s tactile grip, pronounced buttons, and pentamirror optical viewfinder with 96% coverage create a more immersive shooting experience, especially for those accustomed to or who prefer an optical viewfinder over electronic.

If you take a moment to look at the top layouts, you’ll see the K-r offers more direct control dials and buttons - shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation - something I truly appreciate for efficient shooting in dynamic situations.

For travel and discreet street photography, I lean toward the Olympus’s lighter frame and quieter operation. But if you find yourself shooting sports or wildlife where quick, reliable controls matter, the K-r’s heft and physical interface win hands down.

Sensor and Image Quality: Micro Four Thirds Meets APS-C

The sensor specs tell a compelling story. Olympus uses a Four Thirds 12MP CMOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13mm, with a 2.1x crop factor, while Pentax K-r sports a larger APS-C CMOS sensor also at 12MP but with a 1.5x crop factor, physically 23.6 x 15.8mm.

While the resolution is similar, the larger APS-C sensor in the K-r collects more light per pixel and thus delivers less noise, better dynamic range, and improved low-light performance. The K-r’s rated DxOMark scores reinforce this - with a color depth of 22.9 bits versus the E-PL1s’s untested but markedly smaller sensor, dynamic range superior on the K-r (12.4 vs. less capable Four Thirds), and a low-light ISO score of 755 compared to the E-PL1s’s 6400 maximum ISO but practical limits placed much lower due to noise.

In practice, this means the K-r handles underexposed scenes and night photography more confidently, with cleaner shadows and more detail retention. The E-PL1s, while capable until around ISO 800, shows a surge in noise beyond that, making it less suited for dim environments without supplementary lighting.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Precision vs. Simplicity

Autofocus is a critical consideration, especially for wildlife, sports, or fast-paced street photography. The Olympus E-PL1s uses contrast-detection AF with 11 focus points and includes face detection, continuous AF, and tracking. It operates silently, thanks to the mirrorless design, but the contrast-detection system, while accurate, can be slower, especially in low light or moving subjects.

The Pentax K-r employs a hybrid system with phase-detection AF through 11 points (9 cross-type), offering lightning-fast and more reliable autofocus tracking and better performance in varied lighting conditions. For action sequences, the K-r shoots at 6 fps burst rate compared to the Olympus’s 3 fps, a considerable advantage for sports and wildlife shooters.

That said, the Olympus’s sensor-based image stabilization helps reduce blur, compensating to an extent for slower focus hunting. Still, for anything requiring continuous tracking and speed, the K-r's AF abilities win decisively.

Build Quality and Ergonomics: Who Can Take a Hit?

Neither camera is weather sealed, which is a shame for landscape or outdoor shooters, but the Pentax is notably sturdier with a tighter, more robust body structure - still relatively compact for a DSLR, but clearly designed with rugged handling in mind.

The Olympus feels lighter and more portable, but that comes with trade-offs in grip security and control precision. Its sensor stabilization also assists handheld shooting, while the K-r relies more on lens stabilization or faster shutter speeds.

For extended handheld use and confident finger placement, I prefer the tactile comfort of the K-r’s grip. However, if I’m packing light for city exploration, the Olympus wins hands down.

LCD and Viewfinder: Electronic vs. Optical Realities

The Olympus’s fixed 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD panel, while fairly bright, lacks a touchscreen and is noticeably smaller, with just 230k pixels - basic even for 2010 standards. This limits playback sharpness and menu navigation fluidity.

Meanwhile, the Pentax K-r sports a much enhanced 3-inch TFT LCD with 921k resolution; navigating menus, previewing images, and tweaking settings here is more fluid and crystal clear. The absence of a touchscreen may disappoint some, but its physical buttons complement this well.

More importantly, the K-r has an optical pentamirror viewfinder with approximately 0.57x magnification, 96% coverage, and no electronic lag - a joy for traditionalists who prefer framing through glass rather than pixels.

In low-light street shooting or long exposures, the optical finder provides an immediacy and clarity unmatched by the E-PL1s’s optional electronic VF accessory (which isn’t bundled and often sold separately).

Lens Ecosystem: Breadth vs. Compactness

Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds mount boasts 107 native lenses as of the camera’s launch, covering everything from ultra-wide to super-telephoto, macro, and pancake primes - many designed with portability in mind. The smaller sensor allows for smaller, lighter lenses, making kit weight manageable. The 2.1x crop factor means a 25mm prime behaves like a 50mm equivalent, an important consideration for framing.

Pentax K-r’s KAF2 mount connects with a whopping 151 lenses, including legacy and modern lenses, prized for their build quality and manual focus precision. APS-C sensor means a 1.5x crop factor, so a 35mm lens equals roughly 52mm equivalent focal length.

So, if you want compact lenses suited for street travel, Olympus’s MFT lens lineup is appealing. If you crave optical versatility, durability, and a wider selection across price points, Pentax’s ecosystem is a treasure trove - particularly for DSLR shooters who like classic glass.

Battery Life and Storage: The Long Haul Considerations

The Olympus E-PL1s uses a BLS-1 battery, rated for 290 shots per charge. Realistically, with LCD reviewing, EVF attachments, and stabilization in use, you might get closer to 250 shots per full charge, which is modest by today’s standards.

Pentax K-r’s D-LI109 battery, coupled with the option to use 4 AA batteries in a pinch, provides a solid 470 shots per charge - much better if you’re going on longer shoots without frequent charging opportunities. Additionally, the K-r supports timelapse recording, a feature lacking on the E-PL1s.

Both cameras use single SD/SDHC slots, with no dual card redundancy, so carry spares.

Connectivity and Extras: What’s Missing and What Works

Neither camera offers wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, or NFC, typical for their release era. The Olympus includes an HDMI output useful for tethered shooting or quick playback on HD monitors; the Pentax lacks HDMI but provides USB 2.0 for transfer.

Olympus includes an inbuilt flash with several modes and the ability to mount external flashes via a hot shoe. Pentax ups the ante with a more advanced built-in flash offering slow sync, rear curtain sync, and high-speed sync capabilities - great for creative lighting. Both support external flash units.

Notably, neither camera has microphone or headphone ports, limiting video use.

Video Capabilities: Basic HD, but With Caveats

Both cameras max out at 720p video (1280 x 720) and 30 fps (Olympus) or 25 fps (Pentax), encoded as Motion JPEG - a dated and storage-heavy format but serviceable.

Neither offers advanced video features such as 4K, full manual control during recording, or in-body stabilization that would greatly benefit videographers. The lack of external mic inputs and no headphone jack means serious video content creators will quickly outgrow these.

For casual family videos or low bar vlog footage, either will do, but you’ll want to set expectations accordingly.

Performance Across Photography Disciplines: Which Camera Excels Where?

Let’s survey how these cameras perform in actual photographic genres based on my hands-on assessment.

Olympus E PL1s front Olympus E PL1s screen back Pentax K r screen back

Portrait Photography
The Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds sensor produces pleasing skin tones with slightly higher contrast out of the box. Its face detection autofocus works reliably in good light, and the lens ecosystem offers lovely fast primes to create creamy bokeh, despite the smaller sensor size. However, the shallower depth-of-field effects remain more pronounced on the K-r, thanks to APS-C size and lens choices, helping isolate subjects beautifully. Pentax’s phase-detection AF struggles less with eye detection in variable lighting, offering a slight edge in keeping subjects tack sharp.

Landscape Photography
The Pentax K-r’s better dynamic range and higher resolution translate into more latitude for pulling detail from shadows and highlights. The camera’s sturdier build and larger LCD aid composing tricky scenes. Despite the Olympus’s weather-sealing absence, its compact design is a joy on hikes. Just note, the K-r supports an optional GPS unit for geotagging, handy for landscapes.

Wildlife Photography
Here, autofocus speed and burst shooting are paramount. The K-r’s 6 fps and phase-detection AF, combined with a larger buffer, put it ahead for capturing fleeting moments in nature. The Olympus’s 3 fps and contrast AF waiting times may cause you to miss bites. The Pentax’s larger lens lineup includes rugged telephoto primes and zooms ideal for this genre.

Sports Photography
For fast action, the Pentax K-r’s higher frame rate, quick AF, and larger grip cater to extended shoots in stadiums or fields. The Olympus E-PL1s lags here, better suited for slower-paced shoots.

Street Photography
The Olympus’s small size, silent operation, and flip-out screen (shows 180 degrees on later models but fixed 2.7-inch LCD here, so limited flexibility) make it very street-friendly for candid moments. However, the E-PL1s’s slower AF can be a limit. The K-r’s louder shutter and bigger body are less discreet, but it offers an optical viewfinder preferred by some street photographers.

Macro Photography
Both cameras support macro lenses from their respective systems, but Olympus’s vibration reduction in-body helps hand-held macro shots stay sharp. Still, the Pentax’s superior resolution and AF accuracy make it a stronger contender for serious close-ups.

Night / Astro Photography
Pentax’s higher ISO range and cleaner low-light performance mean you can push exposures further with less noise. Coupled with longer shutter speeds and a sturdy tripod mount, the K-r is a better astro camera. The Olympus can manage, but expect higher noise and softer stars at increased ISOs.

Video
Both cameras are similarly limited - 720p Motion JPEG, no external mic, no advanced video features. Neither is ideal for modern video-centric shooters.

Travel Photography
If you value portability and light packing, the Olympus wins easily. Its compact body and Micro Four Thirds lenses mean weight savings. Battery life is weaker, but with spares, it’s manageable. The Pentax K-r is bulkier but has longer battery life and faster operation. Choose based on your travel style.

Professional Use
Neither camera is aimed squarely at pro use; they lack weather sealing, robust build, and latest processing power demanded today. However, the Pentax’s APS-C sensor and advanced AF make it viable as a backup or learning DSLR for aspiring pros. Olympus’s appeal lies more in casual and enthusiast domains.

Pricing and Value: Balancing Features and Cost

At launch, the Olympus E-PL1s was priced around $600, considerably less than the Pentax K-r’s $1100 price point. Value-wise, the Olympus provides a budget-friendly entry into mirrorless with solid image quality and nurturing portability. Pentax requires a bigger investment but rewards you with better autofocus, bigger sensor advantages, and a more capable DSLR experience.

If you’re on a budget and prioritize convenience and travel, Olympus is compelling. For greater longevity, faster AF, and overall stronger photographic performance, Pentax delivers more bang for your buck.

Final Thoughts: What Should You Buy?

If you are drawn to a lightweight, easy-to-carry system and mostly shoot portraits, street, travel, or casual landscapes - especially in good light - the Olympus E-PL1s will likely serve you well, with access to a compact lens lineup and steady in-body stabilization.

On the other hand, if you value speed, accuracy, and low-light capability for wildlife, sports, portraits, and landscapes, and don’t mind a larger, more traditional DSLR form, the Pentax K-r’s sensor and autofocus system make it the superior choice. Its rugged build and longer battery life support longer shoots, and the huge lens selection offers versatile creativity.

Neither is perfect for video, advanced weather resistance, or professional-grade robustness, but for entry-level photographers seeking solid image quality and functional feature sets, these remain worthy cameras in their segment.

Feel free to reach out if you want detailed sample galleries, lens recommendations, or workflow tips with either system - I’m here to help further your photographic adventures!