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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched May 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Superseded the Pentax K-7
  • New Model is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax K-5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is pretty close but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM2 was unveiled 2 years after the K-5 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PM2 matches up versus the K-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Pentax K-5

 E-PM2 K-5 
RevealedMay 2013December 2010Newer by 30 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Olympus E-PM2

 K-5 E-PM2 
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax K-5

 E-PM2 K-5 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 enjoys physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax K-5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PM2 vs the K-5.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and K-5 is 89 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions merely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and K-5.

As you can see, each of these cameras have the same MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 has got the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field harder. The fresher E-PM2 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-5 Portrait photography information
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
73
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Pentax K-5
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
does not have phase detect auto focus
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography information
Pentax K-5 Travel photography information
66
boasts focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
65
environment sealing
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography information
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have Time Lapse function
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Pentax K-5
36
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have mic jack
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone socket
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax K-5
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Pentax K-5
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Pentax K-5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2013-05-21 2010-12-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 740 gr (1.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 82
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 14.1
DXO Low light score 932 1162
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 980 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $448 $800