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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched December 2010
  • Older Model is Pentax K-7
  • Renewed by Pentax K-5 IIs
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax K-5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL2 was manufactured 2 months later than the K-5 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL2 scores vs the K-5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Pentax K-5

 E-PL2 K-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 K-5 E-PL2 
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax K-5

 E-PL2 K-5 
LaunchedFebruary 2011December 2010Same generation
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 comes with physical dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-PL2 and the K-5.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and K-5 is 85 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing just by researching technical specs. The photograph below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and K-5.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-5 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Street photography camera
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery power (280 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography details
Pentax K-5 Travel photography details
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
terrible battery power (280 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
65
environment sealing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery power (280 shots)
no Timelapse function
78
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-5 Vlogging factors
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone port
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax K-5
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax K-5
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax K-5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-02-11 2010-12-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs 1/180 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) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 grams (0.80 pounds) 740 grams (1.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 82
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 14.1
DXO Low light rating 573 1162
Other
Battery life 280 images 980 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail price $0 $800