Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-5: A Hands-On, In-Depth Camera Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right camera in today’s market often means striking a balance between technological prowess, handling, and personal shooting style. For enthusiasts considering models from the last decade, the Olympus PEN E-PL6 and the Pentax K-5 stand as interesting alternatives that cater to different photographic philosophies. Having tested both extensively under real-world conditions, this comprehensive comparison evaluates these two cameras across major photography disciplines, highlighting practical user experience, sensor performance, ergonomics, and value for various workflows.

Let’s dive into how these two cameras stack up side by side.

A Tale of Two Cameras: Compact Mirrorless vs. Rugged DSLR

At first glance, the Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax K-5 couldn’t be more different in design heritage and target audience.

The Olympus E-PL6 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera aimed at entry-level users transitioning from compact cameras or smartphones. Its petite dimensions, simplified controls, and a tilting touchscreen emphasize ease of use and portability.

By contrast, the Pentax K-5 is a mid-size DSLR designed for advanced amateurs who demand durability, weather resistance, and extensive manual controls for diverse lighting and fast-action scenarios.

Physically, this contrast is stark:

Olympus’s compact and lightweight build (111x64x38mm; 325g) suits travel and urban shooting, while the Pentax’s larger and heavier body (131x97x73mm; 740g) instills confidence during intensive outdoor use. Both offer a sturdy grip, but the Pentax’s weather sealing and robust chassis are designed for harsher environments. My time hiking and shooting macro subjects in damp conditions with the K-5 gave me tangible reassurance against rain and mist - not something I'd entrust to the E-PL6 without extra protection.

Design and Controls: Intuitive vs. Traditional

The E-PL6 favors simplicity and touchscreen interaction, while the K-5 opts for a full suite of physical controls, tapping into decades of DSLR tradition.

From the top:

The Olympus’s top plate is minimalistic, with a mode dial and shutter button dominating. Its touchscreen LCD facilitates quick focusing and menu navigation, perfect for beginners or those who appreciate fast adjustments without hunting through buttons.

Meanwhile, the Pentax K-5 offers dedicated dials for ISO, metering modes, and exposure compensation, allowing for granular control without diving into menus - a valuable asset for professionals and those who want to keep their eyes on the scene.

However, the absence of a touchscreen on the K-5 means some shooting modes and settings adjustments take longer than on the Olympus. Also, the E-PL6’s tilting touchscreen LCD (3 inches, 460k dots) better facilitates unconventional angles and selfies:

The Pentax has a larger 3-inch but fixed 921k-dot display with exceptional sharpness, though it lacks touch functionality. For outdoor use, the K-5’s screen visibility in bright sunlight surpasses the E-PL6’s, another plus for fieldwork.

Sensor Technology: Four Thirds vs. APS-C – Image Quality at a Glance

Given the fundamental sensor size differences - Olympus’s Four Thirds sensor (17.3x13mm, 16MP) versus Pentax K-5’s APS-C sensor (23.7x15.7mm, 16MP) - a discussion on image quality is crucial.

Here’s a visual summary of sensor specifications and resulting quality factors:

Key takeaways:

• The K-5's larger sensor area (372mm²) captures more light per pixel, translating to superior low-light performance and dynamic range.
• Both cameras sport a 16MP resolution, though the K-5’s 3:2 aspect ratio yields slightly larger image files (4928x3264 vs. 4608x3456).
• Olympus’s Four Thirds sensor employs the TruePic VI processor and broad ISO extension up to 25600, but in practice, noise levels rise aggressively beyond ISO 1600.
• The Pentax K-5’s Prime II processor complements its sensor with excellent dynamic range (DxOmark's score: 14.1 EV) and cleaner high ISO images, holding usable details up to ISO 3200-6400 in hands-on tests.

In the studio, the K-5 captures finer gradations in skin tones and detailed textures in portraits, while the E-PL6 delivers good results for casual use.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Precision Across Shooting Scenarios

Both cameras offer continuous, single, and tracking autofocus modes, but their underlying technologies differ markedly.

The Olympus employs a contrast-detection AF system featuring 35 focus points, face detection, and touch-to-focus capabilities. This system is very accurate in good lighting but tends to lag in rapidly changing scenes or low-light conditions.

The Pentax incorporates a hybrid autofocus system combining phase and contrast detection with 11 focus points, 9 of which are cross-type sensors, plus central AF point support. This arrangement provides faster and more reliable autofocus acquisition and tracking at variable distances and towards moving subjects.

To put this in real terms:

• For portrait work, both cameras lock onto faces well, but the K-5’s AF is quicker and more consistent in maintaining focus on eyes, even with slight movement.
• In sports and wildlife, the K-5 outperforms with its superior AF tracking at 7 fps, compared to the E-PL6’s 8 fps burst but less reliable autofocus during continuous shooting.
• Street photographers exploring candid shots will appreciate the E-PL6’s silent operation and touchscreen controls but may find the K-5’s phase detection advantageous in fast-paced scenarios.

Photography Disciplines: How Each Camera Performs in the Field

Portrait Photography

Portrait shooters prioritize creamy bokeh, accurate skin tones, and rapid eye autofocus.

• The Olympus E-PL6 benefits from Micro Four Thirds glass, which can provide shallow depth of field using fast primes, but the smaller sensor inherently limits bokeh quality and background blur compared to APS-C.
• Its contrast-detect AF occasionally hunts near the edges of the frame but nails central eye detection in bright light.
• The Pentax K-5’s larger sensor and prime lenses, paired with phase-detection AF, produce smoother separation and sharper focus on eyes, delivering professional-grade skin tones with subtle tonal transitions.

Landscape Photography

Wide dynamic range and resolution underpin landscape work.

• The K-5 shines here, with an APS-C sensor capturing a broader tonal range, and its weather sealing encouraging shooting in adverse conditions.
• The E-PL6 lacks environmental sealing and increased weather resistance, making it less desirable for remote or harsh environments.
• In daylight, landscape images from both cameras are quite detailed, but the K-5's higher resolution and dynamic latitude offer more flexibility in post-processing, especially in recovering shadows and highlights.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Speed, autofocus tracking, and burst capability are paramount.

• The K-5’s 7 fps burst with sustained phase-detection AF gives it an edge for timely capture of unpredictable action.
• The Olympus’s 8 fps burst rate is numerically higher but relies on slower contrast detection, resulting in less consistent focus on moving subjects.
• The K-5’s lens mount grants access to longer telephoto primes essential for wildlife, while the E-PL6’s accessible Micro Four Thirds lineup offers options but generally lacks the reach and speed of DSLR telephoto lenses.

Street Photography

Discretion, size, and silent operation matter most.

• The Olympus E-PL6’s compact size, lightweight body, and silent shutter mode excel in street shooting. Its touchscreen focusing lets you quickly frame by touch without drawing attention.
• The Pentax, while bulkier and noisier due to its DSLR shutter, offers a superior optical viewfinder with 100% coverage for accurate framing in complex scenes.
• Night street work favors the Pentax’s high ISO performance and brighter viewfinder for manual focusing in low light.

Macro Photography

Magnification potential and focusing precision are critical.

• Both cameras depend on lens selection for magnification; however, the Pentax K-5’s native lenses include several dedicated macro options with excellent resolution and stabilized optics.
• The Olympus offers sensor-based image stabilization which helps during handheld close-up shots, but focusing precision is hindered by its contrast AF system.
• For macro enthusiasts who shoot mostly handheld, the E-PL6's stabilization combined with suitable lenses is helpful, but the K-5 delivers crisper results with dedicated macro glass on a tripod.

Night and Astrophotography

High ISO performance and long exposure support define this niche.

Both cameras support manual exposure mode and long shutter speeds up to 60 seconds. However:

• The K-5’s sensor noise control at extended ISOs coupled with dust reduction mechanisms and stable weather resistance make it a favorite for astrophotography.
• The Olympus’s smaller sensor shows more noise and banding at high ISO, limiting its nighttime usability mostly to lower ISO exposures.
• Neither camera offers built-in intervalometer controls beyond timelapse functionality.

Video Capabilities

Neither camera targets videographers but covers basic HD video.

• Olympus E-PL6 shoots Full HD 1080p at 30fps with smooth autofocus transitions thanks to contrast detection.
• The K-5 outputs Full HD 1080p at 25fps, but relies on manual focus and contrast-detection AF in live view, and video uses Motion JPEG format, consuming storage rapidly.
• The K-5 includes a microphone port for audio input, absent on the E-PL6.
• Both lack 4K and advanced video features found on modern models.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Ruggedness Matters

The Pentax K-5 wins hands down in this category.

• It features an environmentally sealed magnesium alloy body sealing out dust and moisture, suitable for shooting in rain or dusty environments without extra protection.
• Olympus E-PL6’s plastic-mounted construction feels less sturdy, and lacks weather sealing entirely. This makes it better suited to fair-weather shooting.

For outdoor professionals or explorers, the Pentax is a better companion; casual photographers or travelers seeking smaller gear may opt for Olympus but should be mindful of weather limitations.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both brands have rich lens lineups but with different focuses.

• Olympus uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, which offers a compact, versatile lens system with 107 lenses available. These lenses are generally smaller and sometimes less expensive than DSLR equivalents.
• Pentax’s K mount has a vast catalog - including 151 compatible lenses - ranging from professional-grade primes and fast telephotos to vintage manual glass adapters.
• The focal length multiplier plays a role: the E-PL6’s 2.1x crop factor impacts depth of field and field of view, especially telephoto reach, whereas the K-5’s 1.5x crop gives a slightly wider perspective on equivalent focal lengths.

For those invested in lens collections or mid- to high-end optics, the Pentax system offers more professional-level glass and adaptability.

User Interface, Battery Life, and Connectivity

Olympus’s interface leverages a touchscreen-centric approach which eases menu navigation, focusing and reviewing images, particularly for beginners.

The Pentax K-5 sticks to more traditional button-and-dial operation, which pros love for direct access but can overwhelm newcomers.

Battery life further differentiates:

In my field tests, the K-5’s battery comfortably lasted a full day under heavy shooting; Olympus needed more frequent recharging or spares for travel.

Connectivity-wise, the E-PL6 has Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless transfer, though Bluetooth or NFC are absent. The Pentax, typical for its era, lacks wireless features entirely but includes an optional GPS accessory.

Sample Images and Performance Scores in Real Use

Neither camera appears radically superior just from specs. Hands-on image analysis paints a fuller story:

Olympus E PL6 front Olympus E PL6 screen back Pentax K 5 front Pentax K 5 screen back

• Olympus delivers vibrant colors and sharpness, especially in well-lit conditions and casual snapshots.
• Pentax’s images feature richer details, better shadow recovery, and cleaner high ISO performance.
• Both produce pleasing bokeh, but the bigger sensor and optics on the Pentax yield more pronounced background blur.

Here’s an expert-based overall performance rating:

And breaking down across photography genres:

Verdict: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

Both the Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax K-5 have distinct personalities shaped by their form factors, sensor technology, and handling.

Choose the Olympus E-PL6 if you:

• Prioritize compactness and portability for travel, street, or casual photography
• Appreciate touchscreen controls and selfie-friendly articulation
• Want solid image stabilization and decent image quality in daylight
• Are on a budget (currently around $300 new/used)
• Are moving up from smartphone or point-and-shoot cameras and want an easy-to-use mirrorless

Choose the Pentax K-5 if you:

• Need a rugged, weather-sealed DSLR for landscape, wildlife, or professional outdoor photography
• Seek superior image quality, dynamic range, and high ISO performance for demanding shoots
• Prefer the tactile control and direct access physical dials for fast manual adjustments
• Want access to a broad array of premium lenses and legacy glass
• Can accommodate a heavier body and longer battery life
• Are willing to invest closer to $800 for a refined APS-C DSLR

Final Thoughts: A Decade-Old Showdown Still Worth Considering

Though both cameras belong to previous generations, their fundamental qualities remain relevant for certain photographers. Choosing between the slim mirrorless convenience of the Olympus E-PL6 and the sturdy DSLR robustness of the Pentax K-5 boils down to priorities. For light, everyday shooting in controlled conditions, Olympus’s smart design carries appeal. For demanding, professional-level use and overall image quality, the Pentax continues to impress.

Whether you desire a compact travel companion or a weatherproof workhorse, this side-by-side comparison should help you make an informed choice tailored to your photographic ambitions.

Happy shooting!

Note to readers: This comparison is based on extensive hands-on testing across multiple shooting environments and post-processing workflows, reflecting practical use cases from portraits to astrophotography.