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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL9
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Updated by Pentax K-1 II
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Below is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) provide different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL8 was released 8 months later than the K-1 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-PL8 scores versus the K-1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Pentax K-1

 E-PL8 K-1 
IntroducedSeptember 2016February 2016More recent by 8 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus E-PL8

 K-1 E-PL8 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-1

 E-PL8 K-1 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen resolution1037k1037kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL8 offers external measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL8 and the K-1.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and K-1 is 86 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements just by checking a spec sheet. The graphic here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and K-1.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-1 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 20MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more recent E-PL8 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography info
72
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
85
manual focus
fantastic megapixels (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography features
Pentax K-1 Street photography features
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
70
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
very good high ISO (204,800)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL8
Sports photography with Pentax K-1
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect AF
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic megapixels (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames/s)
bad battery pack (760 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Pentax K-1
71
boasts focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
53
weather proof
fantastic megapixels (36 megapixels)
bad battery pack (760 per charge)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010g)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography details
80
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
81
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic megapixels (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (204,800)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
bad battery pack (760 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging info
Pentax K-1 Vlogging info
35
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone port
does not feature selfie friendly screen
more heavy than competition in class (1,010g)
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Pentax K-1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Pentax K-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2016-09-19 2016-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 25600 204800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 4.4 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/200 seconds
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 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 grams (0.79 pounds) 1010 grams (2.23 pounds)
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 Overall rating not tested 96
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 3280
Other
Battery life 350 shots 760 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots One 2
Price at release $500 $1,499