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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Announced November 2011
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PM2
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Launched September 2011
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Pentax RZ18, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and RZ18 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM1 was introduced 3 months later than the RZ18 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-PM1 scores against the RZ18 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Pentax RZ18

 E-PM1 RZ18 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Olympus E-PM1

 RZ18 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax RZ18

 E-PM1 RZ18 
LaunchedNovember 2011September 2011Similar age
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 features 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 RZ18 has proportions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM1 versus Pentax RZ18 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PM1 against the RZ18.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and RZ18 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements merely by going over specifications. The visual underneath will provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and RZ18.

Plainly, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PM1 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Pentax RZ18 will offer you greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics much more aggressively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography features
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography features
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
36
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography details
Pentax RZ18 Street photography details
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
lighter than competitors (178g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography features
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography features
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have phase detect AF
47
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography features
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography features
45
missing Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than competitors (178g)
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography highlights
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
missing Timelapse function
49
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Pentax RZ18
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone jack
30
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (178g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax RZ18
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Pentax Optio RZ18
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-11-23 2011-09-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
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 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265g (0.58 lb) 178g (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $499 $210