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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2012
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Released May 2012
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Pentax K-01, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the K-01 (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and K-01 (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was released 4 months after the K-01 and they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-PL5 grades versus the K-01 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Pentax K-01

 E-PL5 K-01 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus E-PL5

 K-01 E-PL5 
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-01

 E-PL5 K-01 
ReleasedSeptember 2012May 2012Similar age
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 offers outer dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Pentax K-01 has specifications of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") having a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL5 versus Pentax K-01 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL5 compared to the K-01.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and K-01 is 88 and 76 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions just by reviewing specs. The image below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and K-01.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras offer the same exact megapixels but different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 offers the tinier sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field harder.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-01 Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW files
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography details
Pentax K-01 Street photography details
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Pentax K-01
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus
61
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography features
Pentax K-01 Travel photography features
75
boasts focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
selfie friendly display
does not have Time Lapse mode
65
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
heavier than competition in class (561 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography factors
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging details
Pentax K-01 Vlogging details
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic support
does not have a selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition in class (561g)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-01
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax K-01
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax K-01
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2012-09-17 2012-05-30
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 grams (0.72 lbs) 561 grams (1.24 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 79
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 12.9
DXO Low light rating 889 1135
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 540 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $400 $899