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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL7
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-S1
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL6 was introduced 6 months prior to the K-S2 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-PL6 grades vs the K-S2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Pentax K-S2

 E-PL6 K-S2 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus E-PL6

 K-S2 E-PL6 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax K-S2

 E-PL6 K-S2 
IntroducedAugust 2014February 2015Same age
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL6 has outer dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-S2 has proportions of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") along with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL6 against the K-S2.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL6 and K-S2 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes just by seeing specs. The pic underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL6 and K-S2.

All in all, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL6 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will produce greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
78
manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Street photography info
Pentax K-S2 Street photography info
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
72
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
very good ISO range (51,200)
heavier than others (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL6
Sports photography with Pentax K-S2
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography features
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography features
85
features focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
65
weather sealing
resolution is good (20MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery pack (410 CIPA)
heavier than others (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Landscape photography camera
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
not so great battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging highlights
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have microphone support
71
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic port
heavier than others (678 grams)
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Pentax K-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL6 Pentax K-S2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2014-08-01 2015-02-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 5.4 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lb) 678 gr (1.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 410 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $300 $581