Clicky

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax P70

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax P70 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
  • Released September 2012
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Released March 2009
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax P70 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax P70, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and P70 (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and P70 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The E-PL5 was manufactured 3 years after the P70 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-PL5 matches up versus the P70 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Pentax P70

 E-PL5 P70 
ReleasedSeptember 2012March 2009More modern by 44 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Olympus E-PL5

 P70 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax P70

 E-PL5 P70 
Manually focus More accurate focusing

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 has exterior measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Pentax P70 has specifications of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax P70 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL5 vs the P70.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and P70 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by checking specifications. The picture here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and P70.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL5 because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will resolve greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The younger E-PL5 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
27
has manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Street photography camera
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
47
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
heavier than competition in class (155g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography features
Pentax P70 Sports photography features
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
Travel photography with Pentax P70
75
comes with focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse recording
56
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (155g)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography features
Pentax P70 Landscape photography features
74
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
missing Time Lapse recording
32
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Pentax P70
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
missing external mic socket
25
decently wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic support
heavier than competition in class (155 grams)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax P70
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax Optio P70
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2012-09-17 2009-03-02
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus range - 10cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 grams (0.72 lb) 155 grams (0.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
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 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $400 $200