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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2012
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-30
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the K-50 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was unveiled 14 months before the K-50 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-PL5 matches up against the K-50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Pentax K-50

 E-PL5 K-50 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus E-PL5

 K-50 E-PL5 
RevealedNovember 2013September 2012Newer by 14 months
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-50

 E-PL5 K-50 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 comes with exterior dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-50 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL5 vs the K-50.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and K-50 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through a spec sheet. The image here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and K-50.

Clearly, both the cameras offer the same exact resolution but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 contains the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field tougher. The more aged E-PL5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-50
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography information
Pentax K-50 Street photography information
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
great high ISO (51,600)
screen does not articulate
more heavy than competition (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography features
Pentax K-50 Sports photography features
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery life (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography information
Pentax K-50 Travel photography information
75
comes with touch focus
good resolution (16MP)
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
56
environment sealing
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery life (410 CIPA)
more heavy than competition (650g)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography features
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
74
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
terrible battery life (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-50 as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
28
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
more heavy than competition (650g)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax K-50
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax K-50
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-09-17 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - PRIME M
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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 51600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 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 Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in 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 Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325g (0.72 lbs) 650g (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 79
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.0
DXO Low light rating 889 1120
Other
Battery life 360 shots 410 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $400 $610