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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed November 2011
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Older Model is Pentax K-30
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus E-PM1 versus Pentax K-50, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM1 was unveiled 24 months before the K-50 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-PM1 grades versus the K-50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Pentax K-50

 E-PM1 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus E-PM1

 K-50 E-PM1 
RevealedNovember 2013November 2011Fresher by 24 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-50

 E-PM1 K-50 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 enjoys exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-50 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 versus Pentax K-50 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PM1 and the K-50.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and K-50 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing just by going through a spec sheet. The photograph here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and K-50.

As you can see, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Pentax K-50 will produce greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The older E-PM1 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography details
Pentax K-50 Street photography details
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
great ISO range (51,600)
no moving screen
more heavy than competitors (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Sports photography camera
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect auto focus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
bad battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Travel photography highlights
45
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
56
environment proofing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
bad battery power (410 shots)
more heavy than competitors (650 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography advice
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
bad battery power (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging information
Pentax K-50 Vlogging information
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone support
more heavy than competitors (650g)
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Pentax K-50
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-11-23 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 51600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 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, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 265 gr (0.58 lbs) 650 gr (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 13.0
DXO Low light rating 499 1120
Other
Battery life 330 shots 410 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $499 $610