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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Revealed September 2012
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") have different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was announced 9 months before the MX-1 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL5 matches up vs the MX-1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Pentax MX-1

 E-PL5 MX-1 
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-PL5

 MX-1 E-PL5 
AnnouncedJuly 2013September 2012Fresher by 9 months
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax MX-1

 E-PL5 MX-1 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL5 offers physical dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL5 against the MX-1.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and MX-1 is 88 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing merely by going over specs. The photograph below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and MX-1.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will offer you greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
42
focusing manually
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography info
Pentax MX-1 Street photography info
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
65
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery (290 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography features
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography features
75
includes focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse recording
61
better than average battery (290 shots)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (391g)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Landscape photography camera
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
55
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (290 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging highlights
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging highlights
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have microphone support
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic socket
heavier than competition (391g)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax MX-1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-09-17 2013-07-01
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s -
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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 gr (0.72 lbs) 391 gr (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 49
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 11.3
DXO Low light rating 889 208
Other
Battery life 360 photos 290 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $400 $400