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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax Q

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax Q 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 Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Revealed June 2011
  • Refreshed by Pentax Q10
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax Q Overview

Below is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax Q, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and Q (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and Q (1/2.3") come with different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was announced 16 months later than the Q which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-PL5 scores versus the Q in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Pentax Q

 E-PL5 Q 
RevealedSeptember 2012June 2011More recent by 16 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Olympus E-PL5

 Q E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax Q

 E-PL5 Q 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 offers physical measurements 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 Q has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax Q in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL5 against the Q.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax Q size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and Q is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax Q top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to picture the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through specs. The graphic underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and Q.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will produce more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more modern E-PL5 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

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

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography features
Pentax Q Portrait photography features
71
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW files
45
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q as a Street photography camera
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
boasts focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (180g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax Q as a Sports photography camera
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (230 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography details
Pentax Q Travel photography details
75
boasts focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse recording
57
lighter than competition (180g)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery pack (230 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography info
Pentax Q Landscape photography info
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
51
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (230 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Pentax Q
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (180g)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax Q
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax Q
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax Q
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-09-17 2011-06-23
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Amount of lenses 107 8
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/2000 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lb) 180 gr (0.40 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 47
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 20.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 11.1
DXO Low light rating 889 189
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 230 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $400 $695