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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Released November 2011
  • Updated by Olympus E-PM2
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The E-PM1 was revealed 18 months earlier than the K-5 IIs which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-PM1 grades vs the K-5 IIs in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 E-PM1 K-5 IIs 

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

 K-5 IIs E-PM1 
ReleasedJune 2013November 2011More recent by 18 months
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

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

 E-PM1 K-5 IIs 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

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

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 has got outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Pentax K-5 IIs has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PM1 and the K-5 IIs.

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

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

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

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

In many cases, it can be tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at a spec sheet. The visual here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and K-5 IIs.

As you can see, both of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PM1 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-5 IIs will give more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older E-PM1 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

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

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

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography info
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography advice
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography advice
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography info
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps low (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect AF
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Travel photography camera
45
lack of Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
65
environment sealing
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging highlights
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone jack
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic support
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Pentax K-5 IIs
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-11-23 2013-06-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
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
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
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
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 265g (0.58 pounds) 760g (1.68 pounds)
Physical 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 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 14.1
DXO Low light rating 499 1208
Other
Battery life 330 images 980 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $499 $749