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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced May 2013
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PM1
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Replacement is Pentax K-1 II
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

The following is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM2 was revealed 3 years before the K-1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-PM2 matches up vs the K-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Pentax K-1

 E-PM2 K-1 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus E-PM2

 K-1 E-PM2 
RevealedFebruary 2016May 2013Newer by 33 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax K-1

 E-PM2 K-1 
Manual focus More exact focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 comes with outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 has specifications of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PM2 vs the K-1.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and K-1 is 89 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions just by looking through specifications. The image here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and K-1.

Plainly, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-1 will result in more detail because of its extra 20MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged E-PM2 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
85
has manual focus
great sensor resolution (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Street photography camera
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
70
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
good ISO range (204,800)
more heavy than average in class (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM2
Sports photography with Pentax K-1
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
lacks phase detect AF
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames/s)
not so great battery life (760 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Travel photography camera
66
has touch focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
53
environment proof
great sensor resolution (36MP)
not so great battery life (760 CIPA)
more heavy than average in class (1,010g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM2
Landscape photography with Pentax K-1
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
81
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor resolution (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
good ISO range (204,800)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
has dual storage slots
not so great battery life (760 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Pentax K-1
36
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone jack
does not contain selfie friendly screen
more heavy than average in class (1,010g)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax K-1
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Pentax K-1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Pentax K-1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2013-05-21 2016-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 25600 204800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 4.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 1010g (2.23 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 96
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 14.6
DXO Low light score 932 3280
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 760 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots One Dual
Price at release $448 $1,499