Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K100D

Here is a thorough analysis of the Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K100D, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and K100D (6MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and K100D (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-PM1 was revealed 5 years later than the K100D and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-PM1 matches up vs the K100D in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PM1 and Pentax K100D. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery and Pentax K100D Gallery.

For those who are intending to carry your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 has got outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Pentax K100D has dimensions of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax K100D in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM1 vs the K100D.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and K100D is 89 and 64 respectively.

In many cases, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specifications. The visual below might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and K100D.

To sum up, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Olympus E-PM1 will offer extra detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-PM1 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.