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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2014
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL6
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL8
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced December 2010
  • Old Model is Pentax K-7
  • Successor is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL7 was revealed 3 years after the K-5 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PL7 scores versus the K-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Pentax K-5

 E-PL7 K-5 
IntroducedSeptember 2014December 2010More modern by 46 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k921kCrisper screen (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Olympus E-PL7

 K-5 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax K-5

 E-PL7 K-5 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL7 provides 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) whilst the Pentax K-5 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL7 and the K-5.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL7 and K-5 is 86 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by going through a spec sheet. The picture underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL7 and K-5.

As you can see, both the cameras posses the exact same MP albeit different sensor sizes. The E-PL7 has got the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging. The more recent E-PL7 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography highlights
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW files
73
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-5 Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Travel photography camera
85
has focus via touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
65
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Landscape photography camera
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
78
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL7
Vlogging with Pentax K-5
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of mic jack
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic socket
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax K-5
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Pentax K-5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL7 Pentax K-5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2014-09-01 2010-12-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 gr (0.79 lb) 740 gr (1.63 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 82
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 14.1
DXO Low light rating 873 1162
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 980 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $499 $800