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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90 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
  • Revealed November 2011
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PM2
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Released February 2010
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the W90 (12MP) is very comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and W90 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was announced 22 months after the W90 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax W90 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PM1 grades vs the W90 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Pentax W90

 E-PM1 W90 
ReleasedNovember 2011February 2010More modern by 22 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Olympus E-PM1

 W90 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax W90

 E-PM1 W90 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 offers external 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) while the Pentax W90 has proportions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PM1 against the W90.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and W90 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by going through specs. The image below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and W90.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras feature the identical MP but different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 has the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF easier. The fresher E-PM1 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography information
Pentax W90 Portrait photography information
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
27
focusing manually
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Street photography camera
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
54
environment sealing
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography factors
Pentax W90 Sports photography factors
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have phase detect autofocus
24
environment sealing
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography info
Pentax W90 Travel photography info
45
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
64
environment sealing
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography info
Pentax W90 Landscape photography info
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
37
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
environment sealing
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax W90 Vlogging highlights
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic support
25
decently wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Pentax W90
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Pentax Optio W90
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Revealed 2011-11-23 2010-02-24
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 gr (0.58 lb) 164 gr (0.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" 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 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $499 $120