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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-01 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL8
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Introduced May 2012
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-PL9 versus Pentax K-01, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the K-01 (16MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and K-01 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was introduced 5 years after the K-01 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-PL9 matches up against the K-01 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Pentax K-01

 E-PL9 K-01 
IntroducedFebruary 2018May 2012More modern by 70 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus E-PL9

 K-01 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax K-01

 E-PL9 K-01 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL9 has got external measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Pentax K-01 has proportions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL9 versus Pentax K-01 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using during that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL9 vs the K-01.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and K-01 is 85 and 76 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The pic here might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and K-01.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL9 has got the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field more challenging. The younger E-PL9 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-01 Portrait photography details
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography advice
Pentax K-01 Street photography advice
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
has focus by touch
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
more heavy than average (561g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography information
Pentax K-01 Sports photography information
69
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
no phase detect autofocus
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery (540 CIPA)
max fps low (6.0 fps)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography features
Pentax K-01 Travel photography features
77
supports bluetooth
has focus by touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
65
good battery (540 CIPA)
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
more heavy than average (561g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography information
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good battery (540 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
Vlogging with Pentax K-01
35
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic jack
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone port
doesn't have selfie friendly display
more heavy than average (561g)
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax K-01
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Pentax K-01
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Pentax K-01
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2018-02-08 2012-05-30
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 121 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380g (0.84 lbs) 561g (1.24 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 1135
Other
Battery life 350 images 540 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $599 $899