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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Announced March 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-r Overview

The following is a extended comparison of the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax K-r, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the K-r (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and K-r (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL2 was introduced about the same time to the K-r so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL2 scores against the K-r with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 E-PL2 K-r 

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

 K-r E-PL2 
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

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

 E-PL2 K-r 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011March 2011Similar age
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL2 has got external dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-r has measurements of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") and a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax K-r in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL2 vs the K-r.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and K-r is 85 and 67 respectively.

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

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions only by reading through specifications. The picture below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and K-r.

Plainly, both of the cameras have got the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 features the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-r Portrait photography details
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
63
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Street photography camera
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-r Sports photography advice
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (280 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
55
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (470 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery power (280 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
47
flash built-in
not so great battery life (470 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Landscape photography camera
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
bad battery power (280 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (470 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging information
Pentax K-r Vlogging information
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
26
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax K-r
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax K-r
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-02-11 2011-03-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lbs) 598 grams (1.32 lbs)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 72
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 12.4
DXO Low light score 573 755
Other
Battery life 280 photographs 470 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $0 $1,100