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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-r 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
  • Announced September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL9
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Announced March 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-r, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and K-r (12MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and K-r (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL8 was unveiled 5 years after the K-r which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL8 matches up versus the K-r with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-PL8 K-r 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016March 2011More modern by 68 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k921kCrisper display (+116k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 K-r E-PL8 

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

 E-PL8 K-r 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL8 has got exterior measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Pentax K-r has specifications of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-r in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL8 and the K-r.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and K-r is 86 and 67 respectively.

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

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The image underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and K-r.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus E-PL8 will result in greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more modern E-PL8 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Portrait photography camera
73
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography information
Pentax K-r Street photography information
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography details
Pentax K-r Sports photography details
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
lack of phase detect autofocus
55
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
bad battery pack (470 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Travel photography camera
72
includes focus via touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
47
flash built-in
bad battery pack (470 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Landscape photography camera
80
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
bad battery pack (470 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging features
Pentax K-r Vlogging features
36
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no microphone socket
26
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-r
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Pentax K-r
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2016-09-19 2011-03-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 100 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 grams (0.79 pounds) 598 grams (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 755
Other
Battery life 350 images 470 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $500 $1,100