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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax E90

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax E90 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
  • Launched November 2011
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PM2
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Released January 2010
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax E90 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax E90, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the E90 (10MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and E90 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was introduced 23 months after the E90 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the E-PM1 grades versus the E90 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Pentax E90

 E-PM1 E90 
ReleasedNovember 2011January 2010Newer by 23 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Olympus E-PM1

 E90 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax E90

 E-PM1 E90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 has physical 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 E90 has proportions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax E90 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PM1 and the E90.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and E90 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions merely by going through specs. The picture here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and E90.

All in all, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 with its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PM1 will provide more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more recent E-PM1 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography info
Pentax E90 Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography info
Pentax E90 Street photography info
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
Sports photography with Pentax E90
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
no phase detect autofocus
16
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography factors
Pentax E90 Travel photography factors
45
lack of Timelapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
50
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (32mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Landscape photography camera
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
lack of Timelapse function
22
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (32mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging information
Pentax E90 Vlogging information
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
22
wide angle not good (32mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax E90
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Pentax Optio E90
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Pentax Optio E90
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-11-23 2010-01-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 32-95mm (3.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 6cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 gr (0.58 pounds) 145 gr (0.32 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $499 $100