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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90 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
  • Launched May 2013
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PM1
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and E90 (10MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and E90 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was announced 3 years after the E90 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-PM2 matches up versus the E90 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Pentax E90

 E-PM2 E90 
LaunchedMay 2013January 2010Newer by 41 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Olympus E-PM2

 E90 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax E90

 E-PM2 E90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM2 enjoys outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Pentax E90 has dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PM2 against the E90.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and E90 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions purely by viewing specs. The pic underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and E90.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PM2 will render greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos more aggressively. The fresher E-PM2 should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
19
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography advice
Pentax E90 Street photography advice
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
47
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography factors
Pentax E90 Sports photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
16
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography advice
Pentax E90 Travel photography advice
66
comes with focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
missing Time Lapse function
does not offer selfie friendly screen
50
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM2
Landscape photography with Pentax E90
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
22
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging information
Pentax E90 Vlogging information
36
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing mic support
22
wide angle not the best (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone port
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax E90
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Pentax Optio E90
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Pentax Optio E90
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-05-21 2010-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 3
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 32-95mm (3.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 6cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lb) 145 gr (0.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $448 $100