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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q 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
  • Announced May 2013
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PM1
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Announced June 2011
  • Successor is Pentax Q10
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax Q, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and Q (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and Q (1/2.3") have different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-PM2 was unveiled 24 months later than the Q which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-PM2 grades against the Q when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Pentax Q

 E-PM2 Q 
AnnouncedMay 2013June 2011Fresher by 24 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q over the Olympus E-PM2

 Q E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax Q

 E-PM2 Q 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM2 has outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Pentax Q has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") having a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax Q in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PM2 compared to the Q.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and Q is 89 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The visual underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and Q.

As you can see, both of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PM2 will resolve more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-PM2 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography features
Pentax Q Portrait photography features
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW files
45
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Pentax Q
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (180 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography factors
Pentax Q Sports photography factors
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
31
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking focus
slow fps (2.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (230 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax Q as a Travel photography camera
66
supports touch to focus
resolution is good (16MP)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
57
lighter than competitors in class (180g)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (230 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography advice
Pentax Q Landscape photography advice
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
51
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (230 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Pentax Q
36
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no external mic support
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (180 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax Q
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Pentax Q
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Pentax Q
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-05-21 2011-06-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Available lenses 107 8
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 180 grams (0.40 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 47
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 20.2
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 11.1
DXO Low light score 932 189
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 230 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $448 $695