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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-r 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PM1
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Revealed March 2011
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-r Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-r, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and K-r (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and K-r (APS-C) feature different sensor size.

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The E-PM2 was launched 2 years later than the K-r and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-PM2 scores versus the K-r in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-PM2 K-r 
RevealedMay 2013March 2011Fresher by 27 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

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

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

 E-PM2 K-r 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. 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) and the Pentax K-r has dimensions of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") and a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-r in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PM2 against the K-r.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and K-r is 89 and 67 respectively.

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

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizing purely by checking specs. The graphic underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and K-r.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Olympus E-PM2 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern E-PM2 should have an advantage in sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-r Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW formats
63
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography advice
Pentax K-r Street photography advice
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-r Sports photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
has no phase detect auto focus
55
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (470 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
Travel photography with Pentax K-r
66
offers touch focus
resolution is good (16MP)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
47
flash built-in
not so great battery life (470 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-r Landscape photography info
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
missing Time Lapse function
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (470 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging information
Pentax K-r Vlogging information
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing external mic support
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax K-r
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Pentax K-r
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Pentax K-r
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-05-21 2011-03-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 598 gr (1.32 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 72
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 12.4
DXO Low light rating 932 755
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 470 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $448 $1,100