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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Revealed May 2013
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PM1
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Introduced July 2013
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Below is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM2 was brought out around the same time to the MX-1 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-PM2 grades versus the MX-1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Pentax MX-1

 E-PM2 MX-1 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-PM2

 MX-1 E-PM2 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax MX-1

 E-PM2 MX-1 
IntroducedMay 2013July 2013Same generation
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM2 has exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PM2 against the MX-1.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and MX-1 is 89 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing technical specs. The graphic here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM2 and MX-1.

As you have seen, both cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PM2 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-PM2 will provide more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images somewhat more aggressively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography details
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography details
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
42
manual focus
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
65
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography details
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography details
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect autofocus
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (290 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
66
supports focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
61
better than average battery pack (290 per charge)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (391 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography details
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography details
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
55
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (290 per charge)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
no Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
33
relatively wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (391g)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Pentax MX-1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Pentax MX-1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-05-21 2013-07-01
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 391 gr (0.86 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 49
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 11.3
DXO Low light score 932 208
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 290 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $448 $400