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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax P80

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Pentax Optio P80 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
23
Overall
30

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax P80 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 P80
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.6-5.8) lens
  • 125g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Announced August 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax P80 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Pentax P80, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the P80 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and P80 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM1 was released 2 years after the P80 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-PM1 grades vs the P80 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Pentax P80

 E-PM1 P80 
AnnouncedNovember 2011August 2009More modern by 28 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax P80 over the Olympus E-PM1

 P80 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax P80

 E-PM1 P80 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax P80 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 offers physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Pentax P80 has sizing of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM1 versus Pentax P80 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PM1 and the P80.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax P80 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and P80 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax P80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax P80 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes only by checking out specs. The image below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and P80.

All in all, each of the cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PM1 offers the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field less difficult. The fresher E-PM1 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax P80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax P80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax P80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM1
Portrait photography with Pentax P80
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography details
Pentax P80 Street photography details
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
55
lighter than competitors (125 grams)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax P80 Sports photography highlights
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
max fps low (6.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
has no phase detect auto focus
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography information
Pentax P80 Travel photography information
45
lack of Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
62
lighter than competitors (125g)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax P80 as a Landscape photography camera
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
32
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging information
Pentax P80 Vlogging information
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
lack of microphone port
28
pretty wide (28mm)
lighter than competitors (125g)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax P80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax P80
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Pentax Optio P80
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Pentax Optio P80
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-11-23 2009-08-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Largest aperture - f/2.6-5.8
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lbs) 125 grams (0.28 lbs)
Physical 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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $499 $200