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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Launched September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL9
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-S1
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Following is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-PL8 versus Pentax K-S2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is very similar but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was brought out 20 months after the K-S2 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-PL8 scores vs the K-S2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Pentax K-S2

 E-PL8 K-S2 
LaunchedSeptember 2016February 2015More modern by 20 months
Display resolution1037k921kClearer display (+116k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus E-PL8

 K-S2 E-PL8 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-S2

 E-PL8 K-S2 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 features outside dimensions 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-S2 has measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL8 versus Pentax K-S2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL8 vs the K-S2.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and K-S2 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading specifications. The picture here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and K-S2.

To sum up, each of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will offer you greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The fresher E-PL8 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
Portrait photography with Pentax K-S2
72
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
78
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Street photography advice
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus by touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
72
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
above average ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than competition (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL8
Sports photography with Pentax K-S2
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect auto focus
70
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (5.4 frames/s)
terrible battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Pentax K-S2
71
offers focus by touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
environment proof
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery (410 per charge)
more heavy than competition (678 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL8
Landscape photography with Pentax K-S2
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
77
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no low pass filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment proof
terrible battery (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL8
Vlogging with Pentax K-S2
35
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
71
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (678g)
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Pentax K-S2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Pentax K-S2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2016-09-19 2015-02-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 5.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 grams (0.79 pounds) 678 grams (1.49 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 350 photographs 410 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $500 $581