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Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-x

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-x Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Introduced January 2016
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Introduced December 2009
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Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-x Overview

Below is a complete assessment of the Olympus PEN-F and Pentax K-x, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and K-x (12MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and K-x (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The PEN-F was revealed 6 years later than the K-x and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summary of how the PEN-F grades against the K-x in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Pentax K-x

 PEN-F K-x 
IntroducedJanuary 2016December 2009More recent by 75 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Olympus PEN-F

 K-x PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Pentax K-x

 PEN-F K-x 
Manual focus More accurate focus

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus PEN-F enjoys external measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") along with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Pentax K-x has sizing of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Compare the Olympus PEN-F and Pentax K-x in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the PEN-F and the K-x.

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and K-x is 84 and 69 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements just by looking at specs. The graphic below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and K-x.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The PEN-F using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Olympus PEN-F will resolve extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-x Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus PEN-F
Portrait photography with Pentax K-x
75
manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
63
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography info
Pentax K-x Street photography info
84
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Sports photography camera
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
not so great battery life (330 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (1,900 per charge)
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-x Travel photography highlights
75
features focus via touch
megapixel count good (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery life (330 per charge)
54
better than average battery pack (1,900 per charge)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography details
Pentax K-x Landscape photography details
76
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
not so great battery life (330 per charge)
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (1,900 shots)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-x as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no mic jack
27
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Pentax K-x
 Olympus PEN-FPentax K-x
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN-F Pentax K-x
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2016-01-27 2009-12-23
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Prime
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 16.00 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 427 gr (0.94 lbs) 580 gr (1.28 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 74 72
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 12.5
DXO Low light rating 894 811
Other
Battery life 330 images 1900 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $1,000 $600