Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-r

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.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

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.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL8 & Pentax K-r. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery & Pentax K-r Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.