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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Announced November 2011
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

The following is a thorough overview of the Olympus E-PM1 versus Pentax MX-1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is very similar but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was announced 19 months prior to the MX-1 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-PM1 matches up vs the MX-1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Pentax MX-1

 E-PM1 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-PM1

 MX-1 E-PM1 
AnnouncedJuly 2013November 2011Newer by 19 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax MX-1

 E-PM1 MX-1 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 comes with physical dimensions 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 MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 versus Pentax MX-1 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 differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-PM1 against the MX-1.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and MX-1 is 89 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions simply by going over specs. The picture here may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and MX-1.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras come with the identical resolution but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 offers the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler. The more aged E-PM1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM1
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
42
you can focus manually
has face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
small sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography features
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography features
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
max fps very slow (6.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
no phase detect auto focus
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
better than average battery pack (290 CIPA)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography highlights
45
missing Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
61
better than average battery pack (290 shots)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (391 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography advice
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
55
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (290 per charge)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging details
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging details
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic port
33
quite wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic socket
heavier than competition (391g)
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Pentax MX-1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Pentax MX-1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-11-23 2013-07-01
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265 gr (0.58 pounds) 391 gr (0.86 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 11.3
DXO Low light rating 499 208
Other
Battery life 330 photos 290 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $499 $400