Olympus
PEN E-P1
 vs
Pentax
K-x

Pentax K-x

45
Winner

Pentax K-x
"Image stabilisation via the camera body is a great feature that works very well when hand-holding the camera in low-light conditions."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's image-stabilization
"The camera has a deep, contoured handgrip on the right-hand side, coated in a rubberized compound to aid grip, that enabled me to use three fingers to hold it and my right forefinger to operate the shutter button."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's feel

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-x

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Olympus PEN E-P1

35
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P1

Size
 Really small
Mid size 121x70x36 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
1.4"
Weight
 Light-weight
355 g
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P1
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Size Smaller 121x70x36 mm vs 123x92x68 mm
Help
 2.5x smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.4" vs 2.7"
Help
 Around 50% thinner
Weight Lighter 355 g vs 580 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Cheaper $184.49 vs $674.92
Help
 The best price we've seen is $490 cheaper (3.7x less)
Olympus PEN E-P1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P1

Advantages of the Pentax K-x
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Overall image quality Better image quality 72.0 vs 55.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 10.4 EV
Help
 2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 21.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
Lens availability More lenses available 90 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
 More than 50% larger sensor
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The K-x's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 811 ISO vs 536 ISO
Help
 The K-x has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4.7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 60% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/6000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 More than 30% faster max shutter speed
Pentax K-x Learn more about
the Pentax K-x
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-P1
35 vs 45
Explain scores
Pentax K-x Pentax K-x
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax K-x. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a mirrorless interchangeable-lens with a entry-level DSLR.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor size Large sensors Help
PEN E-P1:Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
K-x:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
PEN E-P1:NMOS
K-x:CMOS
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
PEN E-P1:1/4000s
K-x:1/6000s
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
PEN E-P1:60s
K-x:30s
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
PEN E-P1:720p @ 30fps
K-x:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the PEN E-P1
Compare the D90 vs the K-x
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PEN E-P1
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-x

Olympus PEN E-P1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Size Slightly larger
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-P1
Olympus PEN E-P2

Olympus PEN E-P2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$480 with 17mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Compare the PEN E-P2 vs the PEN E-P1
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-P1
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
3D Takes 3D photos
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-P1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-P1

Pentax K-x Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$631 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Slightly larger
Compare the K-r vs the K-x
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Compare the D3100 vs the K-x
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Compare the D5100 vs the K-x
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Larger
Compare the K-5 vs the K-x
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization No image stabilization
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the K-x

appearance

Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax K-x
Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax K-x
Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax K-x

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