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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
76
Features
52
Overall
66

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed November 2011
  • New Model is Olympus E-PM2
Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Announced March 2010
  • Renewed by Pentax 645Z
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Pro DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and 645D (40MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and 645D (Medium format) possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was released 21 months after the 645D making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-PM1 grades versus the 645D for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Pentax 645D

 E-PM1 645D 
AnnouncedNovember 2011March 2010More modern by 21 months

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Olympus E-PM1

 645D E-PM1 
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax 645D

 E-PM1 645D 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 comes with outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Pentax 645D has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PM1 against the 645D.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and 645D is 89 and 50 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by looking at specifications. The image underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and 645D.

Plainly, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Pentax 645D will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 28MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images much more aggressively. The more recent E-PM1 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax 645D as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
77
you can focus manually
fantastic resolution (40MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography advice
Pentax 645D Street photography advice
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
58
large sensor size (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
Sports photography with Pentax 645D
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
63
fantastic resolution (40MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (800 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography info
Pentax 645D Travel photography info
45
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low MP (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
55
weather sealing
fantastic resolution (40MP)
not so great battery power (800 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography factors
Pentax 645D Landscape photography factors
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
72
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
fantastic resolution (40 megapixels)
large sensor size (Medium format)
no anti aliasing filter
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
has double storage slots
no liveview
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (800 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging factors
Pentax 645D Vlogging factors
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic jack
9
no video recording
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax 645D
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Pentax 645D
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Pentax 645D
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Revealed 2011-11-23 2010-03-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 40 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 7264 x 5440
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Total lenses 107 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265g (0.58 lbs) 1480g (3.26 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 82
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 24.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 12.6
DXO Low light rating 499 1262
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 800 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Two
Retail pricing $499 $4,000