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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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-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
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-5 IIs, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL5 was announced 8 months prior to the K-5 IIs and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL5 grades 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-PL5 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 E-PL5 K-5 IIs 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Olympus E-PL5

 K-5 IIs E-PL5 
IntroducedJune 2013September 2012More recent by 8 months
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 E-PL5 K-5 IIs 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 has outside measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-5 IIs in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL5 versus the K-5 IIs.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and K-5 IIs is 88 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements merely by checking out specifications. The graphic underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and K-5 IIs.

Plainly, both cameras have the same megapixels but different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 features the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field tougher. The older E-PL5 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography details
71
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW formats
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography info
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
has no phase detect auto focus
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Travel photography camera
75
includes focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse function
65
weather proofing
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography factors
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
no Time Lapse function
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Pentax K-5 IIs
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no external mic jack
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic jack
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax K-5 IIs
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-09-17 2013-06-04
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 grams (0.72 lbs) 760 grams (1.68 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 82
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 14.1
DXO Low light rating 889 1208
Other
Battery life 360 images 980 images
Battery format 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $400 $749