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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL8
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Replacement is Pentax K-1 II
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Here is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax K-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was launched 2 years later than the K-1 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-PL9 scores vs the K-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Pentax K-1

 E-PL9 K-1 
ReleasedFebruary 2018February 2016Fresher by 25 months
Display resolution1040k1037kClearer display (+3k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus E-PL9

 K-1 E-PL9 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax K-1

 E-PL9 K-1 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 provides outer dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has specifications of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax K-1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL9 and the K-1.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and K-1 is 85 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizing just by going over specifications. The photograph here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and K-1.

To sum up, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-1 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 20 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The fresher E-PL9 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Portrait photography camera
73
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
85
has manual focus
megapixel count amazing (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography advice
Pentax K-1 Street photography advice
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides focus via touch
70
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
great ISO range (204,800)
more heavy than others in class (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography information
Pentax K-1 Sports photography information
69
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
has no phase detect AF
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames/s)
low battery pack (760 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography information
Pentax K-1 Travel photography information
77
has bluetooth
provides focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is not selfie friendly
53
environment proofing
megapixel count amazing (36MP)
low battery pack (760 per charge)
more heavy than others in class (1,010g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography info
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
81
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
great ISO range (204,800)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
2 card slots
low battery pack (760 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-1 as a Vlogging camera
35
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing microphone port
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone support
does not offer selfie friendly display
more heavy than others in class (1,010g)
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax K-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Pentax K-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Pentax K-1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2018-02-08 2016-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 6400 204800
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 121 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 8.6 frames per sec 4.4 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 grams (0.84 pounds) 1010 grams (2.23 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 96
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.6
DXO Low light score not tested 3280
Other
Battery life 350 images 760 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots Single 2
Retail cost $599 $1,499