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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax XG-1

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Pentax XG-1 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax XG-1 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
  • Announced August 2014
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL7
Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Released July 2014
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax XG-1 Overview

The following is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax XG-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the XG-1 (16MP) is very similar but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and XG-1 (1/2.3") come with different sensor size.

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The E-PL6 was unveiled within a month of the XG-1 which means that they are of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL6 matches up vs the XG-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Pentax XG-1

 E-PL6 XG-1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Olympus E-PL6

 XG-1 E-PL6 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax XG-1

 E-PL6 XG-1 
ReleasedAugust 2014July 2014Similar age
Manually focus More precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax XG-1 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera often, you should consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL6 features outside 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) and the Pentax XG-1 has sizing of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") and a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax XG-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL6 against the XG-1.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax XG-1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL6 and XG-1 is 88 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax XG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax XG-1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL6 and XG-1.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses the exact same resolution but different sensor dimensions. The E-PL6 includes the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field easier.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax XG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax XG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography information
Pentax XG-1 Portrait photography information
71
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
40
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Street photography factors
Pentax XG-1 Street photography factors
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (567 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Sports photography information
Pentax XG-1 Sports photography information
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
45
incredible zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (240 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL6
Travel photography with Pentax XG-1
85
comes with touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
52
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (1248mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (240 per charge)
heavier than competition in class (567g)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax XG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
45
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery life (240 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Vlogging advice
Pentax XG-1 Vlogging advice
79
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no external microphone socket
25
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic port
heavier than competition in class (567 grams)
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax XG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax XG-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Pentax XG-1
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL6 Pentax XG-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2014-08-01 2014-07-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1248mm (52.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.6
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200 thousand dot
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 lbs) 567g (1.25 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9")
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 shots 240 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LB-060
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $300 $599