Olympus
PEN E-PL1
 vs
Pentax
K-x

Updated (January, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PL2 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

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
72.0
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.8 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Olympus PEN E-PL1

33
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Size
 Really small
Mid size 115x72x42 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Weight
 Light-weight
334 g

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Size Smaller 115x72x42 mm vs 123x92x68 mm
Help
 2.2x smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 334 g vs 580 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.7" vs 2.7"
Help
 Around 40% thinner
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Cheaper $259.99 vs $674.92
Help
 The best price we've seen is $415 cheaper (2.6x less)
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Advantages of the Pentax K-x
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 72.0 vs 54.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 2.4 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Startup delay Less startup delay 600 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
 3.7x less delay when turning on
Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 21.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Lens availability More lenses available 90 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
 Around 3.5x more lenses available
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 97 ms vs 820 ms
Help
 8.5x less delay when taking photos
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
 More than 50% larger sensor
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 0
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 811 ISO vs 487 ISO
Help
 The K-x has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Battery life Longer battery life 420 shots vs 290 shots
Help
 More than 40% more shots per battery charge
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 Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/6000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 3x 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-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
33 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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by trixie-bird last week
Olympus PEN E-PL1 vs Panasonic DMC-GF2

Intermediate.  Want to take pictures or people and landscapes.

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-PL1: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 cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
PEN E-PL1:60s
K-x:30s
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Screen size Very small screens Help
2.7"
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Focus points Few focus points Help
11
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
PEN E-PL1:720p @ 30fps
K-x:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the D3100 vs the K-x
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the K-x
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the K-x
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$449 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Live view Doesn't let you preview your photos on the screen
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the D3000 vs the PEN E-PL1
Compare the D3000 vs the K-x

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$589 - $600 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PL1

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 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
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D90 vs the K-x

appearance

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax K-x
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax K-x
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax K-x

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