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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released September 2014
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL6
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL8
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-1 II
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus E-PL7 versus Pentax K-1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL7 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) boast different sensor size.

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The E-PL7 was unveiled 17 months before the K-1 making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL7 scores vs the K-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Pentax K-1

 E-PL7 K-1 
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus E-PL7

 K-1 E-PL7 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016September 2014More modern by 17 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax K-1

 E-PL7 K-1 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display resolution1037k1037kSame display resolution

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL7 features outer dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL7 versus Pentax K-1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL7 compared to the K-1.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL7 and K-1 is 86 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes merely by checking out specifications. The pic below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL7 and K-1.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL7 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-1 will produce extra detail having an extra 20 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos more aggressively. The more aged E-PL7 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography information
71
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
85
has manual focus
fantastic megapixels (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography features
Pentax K-1 Street photography features
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
70
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
good high ISO (204,800)
heavier than average in class (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Sports photography camera
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic megapixels (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (4.4 fps)
terrible battery power (760 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-1 Travel photography factors
85
boasts touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
selfie friendly display
53
weather proof
fantastic megapixels (36MP)
terrible battery power (760 CIPA)
heavier than average in class (1,010 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL7
Landscape photography with Pentax K-1
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
81
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic megapixels (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
no low pass filter
good high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
terrible battery power (760 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging details
Pentax K-1 Vlogging details
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of mic jack
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic jack
display is not selfie friendly
heavier than average in class (1,010g)
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax K-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Pentax K-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL7 Pentax K-1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2014-09-01 2016-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 36MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 25600 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 gr (0.79 lbs) 1010 gr (2.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 96
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 14.6
DXO Low light rating 873 3280
Other
Battery life 350 images 760 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots Single Dual
Price at launch $499 $1,499