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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Launched February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL3
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL2 was released 3 years earlier than the K-5 IIs and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-PL2 scores vs the K-5 IIs when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 E-PL2 K-5 IIs 

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

 K-5 IIs E-PL2 
AnnouncedJune 2013February 2011More recent by 28 months
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

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

 E-PL2 K-5 IIs 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 enjoys outer measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL2 against the K-5 IIs.

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

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and K-5 IIs is 85 and 60 respectively.

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

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out specifications. The photograph below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and K-5 IIs.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-5 IIs will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be behind in sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography info
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography information
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
bad battery (280 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography information
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery (280 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
65
environment proofing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery (280 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
saves RAW files
environment proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Pentax K-5 IIs
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax K-5 IIs
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-02-11 2013-06-04
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech 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 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 gr (0.80 lbs) 760 gr (1.68 lbs)
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 score 55 82
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 14.1
DXO Low light score 573 1208
Other
Battery life 280 images 980 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $0 $749