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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7 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
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PM2
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed October 2009
  • Later Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the K-7 (15MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and K-7 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was brought out 2 years later than the K-7 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PM1 matches up against the K-7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Pentax K-7

 E-PM1 K-7 
RevealedNovember 2011October 2009More recent by 27 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Olympus E-PM1

 K-7 E-PM1 
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-7

 E-PM1 K-7 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 has got 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-7 has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the E-PM1 versus the K-7.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and K-7 is 89 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor measurements only by going through specifications. The visual below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and K-7.

To sum up, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PM1 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-7 will produce greater detail having its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The younger E-PM1 will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-7 Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
72
focusing manually
MP count good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography advice
Pentax K-7 Street photography advice
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography information
Pentax K-7 Sports photography information
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow fps (6.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
lacks phase detect auto focus
69
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
slow fps (5.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-7 Travel photography highlights
45
does not have Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
64
environment sealing
MP count good (15MP)
has built in flash
does not contain selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-7
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
77
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-7 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic support
25
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
does not contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-7
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Pentax K-7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Pentax K-7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-11-23 2009-10-02
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4672 x 3104
Max native ISO 12800 2000
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 gr (0.58 lbs) 750 gr (1.65 lbs)
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 score 52 61
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 10.6
DXO Low light score 499 536
Other
Battery life 330 images 980 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/MMC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $499 $599