Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-S2

Here is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-S2, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL5 was manufactured 3 years before the K-S2 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-PL5 scores vs the K-S2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL5 & Pentax K-S2. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery & Pentax K-S2 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 provides outside 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-S2 has specifications of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") having a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-S2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL5 vs the K-S2.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and K-S2 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Usually, it is very difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizing merely by going over technical specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and K-S2.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will deliver extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The older E-PL5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.