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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q-S1 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  • Superseded the Olympus E-PM1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-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Released August 2014
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

The following is a extended assessment of the Olympus E-PM2 versus Pentax Q-S1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and Q-S1 (1/1.7") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM2 was manufactured 14 months earlier than the Q-S1 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PM2 grades versus the Q-S1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Pentax Q-S1

 E-PM2 Q-S1 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus E-PM2

 Q-S1 E-PM2 
ReleasedAugust 2014May 2013Newer by 14 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax Q-S1

 E-PM2 Q-S1 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM2 provides exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Pentax Q-S1 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Pentax Q-S1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PM2 versus the Q-S1.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and Q-S1 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading a spec sheet. The pic underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and Q-S1.

Clearly, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PM2 will offer you extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PM2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
46
you can focus manually
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography info
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography info
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors (203g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography highlights
Pentax Q-S1 Sports photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
37
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
terrible battery power (250 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography features
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography features
66
boasts touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
60
lighter than competitors (203g)
has built in flash
terrible battery power (250 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography info
Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography info
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have Time Lapse function
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
terrible battery power (250 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging info
Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging info
36
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (203 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Pentax Q-S1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-05-21 2014-08-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Q Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Total lenses 107 8
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 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) 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 lb) 203g (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 250 shots
Form 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
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $448 $250