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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-70

Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Pentax K-70 front
Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-70 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL9
Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Released June 2016
  • Refreshed by Pentax KF
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-70 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-70, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and K-70 (24MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and K-70 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL8 was released 4 months later than the K-70 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-70 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PL8 matches up against the K-70 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Pentax K-70

 E-PL8 K-70 
Screen resolution1037k921kCrisper screen (+116k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Olympus E-PL8

 K-70 E-PL8 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-70

 E-PL8 K-70 
ReleasedSeptember 2016June 2016Same age
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-70 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL8 offers outer measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Pentax K-70 has dimensions of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") and a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-70 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL8 against the K-70.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-70 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and K-70 is 86 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-70 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to see the difference in sensor measurements merely by looking through specifications. The visual underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and K-70.

To sum up, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-70 will render more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
Portrait photography with Pentax K-70
73
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
80
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography factors
Pentax K-70 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
71
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
good ISO range (102,400)
heavier than competition in class (688 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL8
Sports photography with Pentax K-70
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
lack of phase detect autofocus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography details
Pentax K-70 Travel photography details
72
features focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
64
weather sealing
good resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery pack (410 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (688 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-70 Landscape photography highlights
80
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
good ISO range (102,400)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging information
Pentax K-70 Vlogging information
36
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
71
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic jack
heavier than competition in class (688g)
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-70
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Pentax K-70
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Pentax K-70
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2016-09-19 2016-06-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII 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 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 102400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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)
Max 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 Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 grams (0.79 lb) 688 grams (1.52 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 410 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $500 $649