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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-x 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
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PM2
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Introduced December 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-x Overview

Below, we are matching up the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-x, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the K-x (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and K-x (APS-C) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM1 was announced 24 months after the K-x 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 K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-PM1 matches up against the K-x in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-PM1 K-x 
IntroducedNovember 2011December 2009More modern by 24 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

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

 K-x E-PM1 

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

 E-PM1 K-x 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 enjoys outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Pentax K-x has sizing of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-x in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PM1 versus the K-x.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and K-x is 89 and 69 respectively.

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

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by seeing specifications. The pic below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and K-x.

Plainly, the two cameras posses the exact same megapixels but different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 provides the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower DOF trickier. The newer E-PM1 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-x Portrait photography factors
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography factors
Pentax K-x Street photography factors
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
Sports photography with Pentax K-x
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
lack of phase detect AF
61
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery pack (1,900 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-x Travel photography factors
45
does not have Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
54
great battery pack (1,900 per charge)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-x Landscape photography information
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (1,900 shots)
small screen (2.7")
MP count low (12MP)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Pentax K-x
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone support
27
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone support
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax K-x
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Pentax K-x
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Pentax K-x
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-11-23 2009-12-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Prime
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 16.00 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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 gr (0.58 pounds) 580 gr (1.28 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 72
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 12.5
DXO Low light score 499 811
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 1900 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $499 $600