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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax E90

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax E90 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
  • Introduced September 2012
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Announced January 2010
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax E90 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL5 versus Pentax E90, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and E90 (10MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and E90 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was launched 2 years later than the E90 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL5 matches up vs the E90 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Pentax E90

 E-PL5 E90 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012January 2010Fresher by 33 months
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Olympus E-PL5

 E90 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax E90

 E-PL5 E90 

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 features outside dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Pentax E90 has dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") along with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL5 versus Pentax E90 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL5 versus the E90.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and E90 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing simply by seeing technical specs. The photograph below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and E90.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 due to its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will produce more detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The fresher E-PL5 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
19
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography features
Pentax E90 Street photography features
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
47
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
no phase detect autofocus
16
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography features
Pentax E90 Travel photography features
75
offers touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
does not have Timelapse mode
50
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (32mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography details
Pentax E90 Landscape photography details
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have Timelapse mode
22
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (32mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax E90 as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have external microphone port
22
wide angle not great (32mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax E90
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax Optio E90
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax Optio E90
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-09-17 2010-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 3
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 32-95mm (3.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 6cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lbs) 145 gr (0.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $400 $100