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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Pentax K100D front
Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D 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
  • Released May 2013
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PM1
Pentax K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Revealed December 2006
  • Newer Model is Pentax K100D S
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D Overview

Below is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and K100D (6MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and K100D (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM2 was manufactured 6 years later than the K100D and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-PM2 grades vs the K100D in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Pentax K100D

 E-PM2 K100D 
RevealedMay 2013December 2006More recent by 79 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k210kSharper screen (+250k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Olympus E-PM2

 K100D E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax K100D

 E-PM2 K100D 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM2 features outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Pentax K100D has dimensions of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PM2 versus the K100D.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and K100D is 89 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor measurements purely by seeing a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and K100D.

As you can see, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PM2 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus E-PM2 will show extra detail due to its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern E-PM2 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography info
Pentax K100D Portrait photography info
71
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW formats
51
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
low megapixels (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Pentax K100D
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
58
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
heavier than competitors in class (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
47
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography info
Pentax K100D Travel photography info
66
has touch to focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
42
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (660 grams)
low megapixels (6MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Landscape photography camera
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have Timelapse mode
52
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
low megapixels (6MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K100D as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone port
9
can't record video
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax K100D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax K100D
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Pentax K100D
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Pentax K100D
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2013-05-21 2006-12-03
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.5"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 3.0fps
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) -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest 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
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 lbs) 660g (1.46 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model 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/MMC card
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $448 $0