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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-x 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
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PM1
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed December 2009
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-x Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Olympus E-PM2 versus Pentax K-x, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and K-x (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and K-x (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 3 years later than the K-x and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-PM2 scores versus the K-x in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 E-PM2 K-x 
RevealedMay 2013December 2009More recent by 42 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 K-x E-PM2 

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

 E-PM2 K-x 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM2 comes with exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-x has dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM2 versus Pentax K-x in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PM2 vs the K-x.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and K-x is 89 and 69 respectively.

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

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements simply by looking through specifications. The visual here will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and K-x.

To sum up, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PM2 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Olympus E-PM2 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more recent E-PM2 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-x Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
63
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Pentax K-x
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography information
Pentax K-x Sports photography information
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
61
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery pack (1,900 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-x Travel photography factors
66
boasts focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
54
great battery pack (1,900 CIPA)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-x Landscape photography info
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
no Time Lapse mode
61
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (1,900 per charge)
tiny screen (2.7")
low MP (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-x Vlogging factors
36
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no mic jack
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax K-x
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Pentax K-x
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Pentax K-x
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2013-05-21 2009-12-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 16.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 580 grams (1.28 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 72
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 12.5
DXO Low light rating 932 811
Other
Battery life 360 photos 1900 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $448 $600