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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released March 2011
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Pentax RS1500, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was announced 2 years later than the RS1500 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-PM2 matches up against the RS1500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Pentax RS1500

 E-PM2 RS1500 
ReleasedMay 2013March 2011More recent by 27 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus E-PM2

 RS1500 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax RS1500

 E-PM2 RS1500 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 has got physical 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 RS1500 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Pentax RS1500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PM2 compared to the RS1500.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and RS1500 is 89 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to envision the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specifications. The visual underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and RS1500.

To sum up, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PM2 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PM2 will deliver greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The newer E-PM2 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
35
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography features
Pentax RS1500 Street photography features
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
54
weather proofing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM2
Sports photography with Pentax RS1500
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
37
MP count good (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Travel photography camera
66
offers focus by touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
67
weather proofing
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography details
Pentax RS1500 Landscape photography details
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
40
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
weather proofing
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging factors
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging factors
36
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
25
quite wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-05-21 2011-03-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file 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 269g (0.59 lb) 157g (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 260 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $448 $150