Clicky

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 II 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
  • Announced November 2011
  • New Model is Olympus E-PM2
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Introduced June 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-5
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-5 II, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The E-PM1 was manufactured 18 months before the K-5 II which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-PM1 grades vs the K-5 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Pentax K-5 II

 E-PM1 K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Olympus E-PM1

 K-5 II E-PM1 
IntroducedJune 2013November 2011More modern by 18 months
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-5 II

 E-PM1 K-5 II 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 has outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 II has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-5 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the K-5 II.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and K-5 II is 89 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by researching specs. The picture below might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and K-5 II.

As you can plainly see, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-5 II will provide you with more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5 II
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Street photography camera
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
Sports photography with Pentax K-5 II
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have phase detect autofocus
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM1
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 II
45
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
65
environment proofing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is not selfie friendly
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography information
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging highlights
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic jack
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-5 II
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Pentax K-5 II
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-11-23 2013-06-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265 gr (0.58 lb) 760 gr (1.68 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 82
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 14.1
DXO Low light rating 499 1235
Other
Battery life 330 shots 980 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $499 $830