Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-5

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PM2 & Pentax K-5. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PM2 Gallery & Pentax K-5 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.