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Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-5 II

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and the Pentax K-5 II are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2015 and September 2012. The E-M5 II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the K-5 II is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (E-M5 II) and an APS-C (K-5 II) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Pentax provides 16.1 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-M5 II
versus
Pentax K-5 II
Olympus E-M5 II   Pentax K-5 II
Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
Micro Four Thirds lenses Pentax K mount lenses
15.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor 16.1 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60p Video 1080/25p Video
ISO 200-25,600 ISO 100-12,800 (80 - 51,200)
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots) Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 1037k dots 3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Swivel touchscreen Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
10 shutter flaps per second 7 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
310 shots per battery charge740 shots per battery charge
124 x 85 x 45 mm, 469 g 131 x 97 x 73 mm, 760 g
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Check E-M5 II offers at
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Check K-5 II offers at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and the Pentax K-5 II? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-M5 II and the Pentax K-5 II is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-M5 II can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the K-5 II is only available in black.

Size Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-5 II
Compare E-M5 II versus K-5 II top
Comparison E-M5 II or K-5 II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax K-5 II is notably larger (21 percent) than the Olympus E-M5 II. Moreover, the K-5 II is substantially heavier (62 percent) than the E-M5 II. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the E-M5 II gets 310 shots out of its Olympus BLN-1 battery, while the K-5 II can take 740 images on a single charge of its Pentax D-LI90 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-M5 II 124 mm 85 mm 45 mm 469 g 310 i Feb 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax K-5 II 131 mm 97 mm 73 mm 760 g 740 i Sep 2012 US$ 1 099ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 130 mm 94 mm 63 mm 497 g 350 i Sep 2013 US$ 1 399ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M5 122 mm 89 mm 43 mm 425 g 360 i Feb 2012 US$ 1 299ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-M5 III 125 mm 85 mm 50 mm 414 g 310 i Oct 2019 US$ 1 199ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 119 mm 82 mm 46 mm 396 g 320 i Jan 2014 US$ 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II 120 mm 83 mm 47 mm 390 g 320 i Aug 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-P5 122 mm 69 mm 37 mm 420 g 330 i May 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus PEN-F 125 mm 72 mm 37 mm 427 g 330 i Jan 2016 US$ 1 199ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic G85 128 mm 89 mm 74 mm 505 g 330 i Sep 2016 US$ 899ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GX8 133 mm 78 mm 63 mm 487 g 330 i Jul 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GX85 122 mm 71 mm 44 mm 426 g 290 i Apr 2016 US$ 799 amazon.com
13.
 
Pentax K-3 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 560 i Oct 2013 US$ 1 299ebay.com
14.
 
Pentax K-3 II 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 720 i Apr 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-5 131 mm 97 mm 73 mm 760 g 740 i Sep 2010 US$ 1 099ebay.com
16.
 
Pentax K-30 130 mm 97 mm 71 mm 650 g 410 i May 2012 US$ 849ebay.com
17.
 
Pentax K-50 130 mm 97 mm 71 mm 650 g 410 i Jun 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty Camera
Model

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The two cameras under review were launched at the same price and fall into the same market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-M5 II features a Four Thirds sensor and the Pentax K-5 II an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the K-5 II is 65 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.5. The sensor in the E-M5 II has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the K-5 II offers a 3:2 aspect.

Olympus E-M5 II and Pentax K-5 II sensor measures

With 16.1MP, the K-5 II offers a higher resolution than the E-M5 II (15.9MP), but the K-5 II nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.81μm versus 3.76μm for the E-M5 II) due to its larger sensor. However, the E-M5 II is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 4 months) than the K-5 II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

Unlike the K-5 II, the E-M5 II has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (40MP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax K-5 II are ISO 100 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-51200.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

E-M5 II versus K-5 II MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the K-5 II has a markedly higher DXO score than the E-M5 II (overall score 9 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 0.8 bits higher color depth, 1.6 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.6 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-M5 II Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p23.012.584273
2.
 
Pentax K-5 II APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/25p23.814.1123582
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p23.012.775773
4.
 
Olympus E-M5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i22.812.382671
5.
 
Olympus E-M5 III Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.313.1132476
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.388472
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p23.112.584273
8.
 
Olympus E-P5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.489572
9.
 
Olympus PEN-F Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38881080/60p23.112.489474
10.
 
Panasonic G85 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34484K/30p22.812.565671
11.
 
Panasonic GX8 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.512.680675
12.
 
Panasonic GX85 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34484K/30p22.912.666271
13.
 
Pentax K-3 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.713.4121680
14.
 
Pentax K-3 II APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.613.6110680
15.
 
Pentax K-5 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/25p23.714.1116282
16.
 
Pentax K-30 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.713.0112979
17.
 
Pentax K-50 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/30p23.713.0112079
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
  empty Camera
Model

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the E-M5 II provides a higher frame rate than the K-5 II. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60p, while the Pentax is limited to 1080/25p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the E-M5 II has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the K-5 II has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the E-M5 II has a higher magnification than the one of the K-5 II (0.74x vs 0.61x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-M5 II, the Pentax K-5 II, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Olympus E-M5 II2360 i3.0 / 1037 swivel i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
2.
 
Pentax K-5 IIoptical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/8000s 7.0/s i i
3.
 
Olympus E-M12360 i3.0 / 1037 tilting i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
4.
 
Olympus E-M51440 i3.0 / 610 tilting i 1/4000s 9.0/s i i
5.
 
Olympus E-M5 III2360 i3.0 / 1040 swivel i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
6.
 
Olympus E-M101440 i3.0 / 1037 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II2360 i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
8.
 
Olympus E-P5optional i3.0 / 1037 tilting i 1/8000s 9.0/s i i
9.
 
Olympus PEN-F2360 i3.0 / 1037 swivel i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
10.
 
Panasonic G852360 i3.0 / 1040 swivel i 1/4000s 9.0/s i i
11.
 
Panasonic GX82360 i3.0 / 1040 swivel i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
12.
 
Panasonic GX852765 i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
13.
 
Pentax K-3optical i3.2 / 1037 fixed i 1/8000s 8.3/s i i
14.
 
Pentax K-3 IIoptical i3.2 / 1037 fixed i 1/8000s 8.3/s i i
15.
 
Pentax K-5optical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/8000s 7.0/s i i
16.
 
Pentax K-30optical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/6000s 6.0/s i i
17.
 
Pentax K-50optical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/6000s 6.0/s i i
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
  empty Camera
Model

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The E-M5 II has a touchscreen, while the K-5 II has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The E-M5 II has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the K-5 II does not have a selfie-screen.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the E-M5 II is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Olympus E-M5 II and the Pentax K-5 II both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the E-M5 II and the K-5 II write their files to SDXC cards. The E-M5 II supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the K-5 II cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and Pentax K-5 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus E-M5 IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
2.
 
Pentax K-5 IIistereo / monoiimini2.0iii
3.
 
Olympus E-M1istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
4.
 
Olympus E-M5istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
5.
 
Olympus E-M5 IIIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
6.
 
Olympus E-M10istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
8.
 
Olympus E-P5istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
9.
 
Olympus PEN-Fistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
10.
 
Panasonic G85istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
11.
 
Panasonic GX8istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
12.
 
Panasonic GX85istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
13.
 
Pentax K-3imono / monoiimini3.0iii
14.
 
Pentax K-3 IIimono / monoiimini3.0iii
15.
 
Pentax K-5istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
16.
 
Pentax K-30imono / monoiii2.0iii
17.
 
Pentax K-50imono / monoiimicro2.0iii
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
  empty Camera
Model

It is notable that the E-M5 II offers wifi support, while the K-5 II does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

Both the E-M5 II and the K-5 II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The K-5 II was replaced by the Pentax K-3, while the E-M5 II was followed by the Olympus E-M5 III. Further information on the features and operation of the E-M5 II and K-5 II can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-M5 II Manual (free pdf) or the online Pentax K-5 II Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Olympus E-M5 II better than the Pentax K-5 II or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Reasons to prefer the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II:

  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/25p).
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.61x).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 921k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (124x85mm vs 131x97mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 291g or 38 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II) SDXC cards.
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 4 months of technical progress since the K-5 II launch.

ilogo

Arguments in favor of the Pentax K-5 II:

  • Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (9 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (1.6 EV of extra DR).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (0.6 stops ISO advantage).
  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (740 versus 310) out of a single battery charge.
  • Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in September 2012).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-M5 II is the clear winner of the match-up (16 : 8 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-M5 II 16:08 K-5 II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-M5 II and the Pentax K-5 II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-M5 II or the K-5 II. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-M5 II5/5+ +4.5/581/1005/55/5 Feb 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax K-5 II5/5....80/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 1 099ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M15/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2013 US$ 1 399ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M54/5+ +..80/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2012 US$ 1 299ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-M5 III5/5+5/582/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2019 US$ 1 199ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-M104/5....80/1005/55/5 Jan 2014 US$ 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II4.5/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Aug 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-P55/5+ +..78/1004.5/55/5 May 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus PEN-F....4/582/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 US$ 1 199ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic G85..+ +..84/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2016 US$ 899ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GX85/5+..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GX854.5/5+ +..82/1005/55/5 Apr 2016 US$ 799 amazon.com
13.
 
Pentax K-34/5....83/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 US$ 1 299ebay.com
14.
 
Pentax K-3 II4.5/5......5/55/5 Apr 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-54/5....83/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2010 US$ 1 099ebay.com
16.
 
Pentax K-304/5....78/1004.5/54.5/5 May 2012 US$ 849ebay.com
17.
 
Pentax K-505/5......5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty  Camera 
 Model 

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-5 II

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

Camera Specifications
Camera Model Olympus E-M5 II Pentax K-5 II
Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Pentax K mount lenses
Launch Date February 2015 September 2012
Launch Price USD 1,099 USD 1,099
Sensor Specs Olympus E-M5 II Pentax K-5 II
Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor APS-C Sensor
Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 23.7 x 15.7 mm
Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 372.09 mm2
Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 28.4 mm
Crop Factor 2.0x 1.5x
Sensor Resolution 15.9 Megapixels 16.1 Megapixels
Image Resolution 4608 x 3456 pixels 4928 x 3264 pixels
Pixel Pitch 3.76 μm 4.81 μm
Pixel Density 7.08 MP/cm2 4.32 MP/cm2
Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 1080/25p Video
ISO Setting 200 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 12,800 ISO
ISO Boost 100 - 25,600 ISO 80 - 51,200 ISO
Image Processor TruePic VII PRIME II
DXO Sensor Quality (score) 73 82
DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.0 23.8
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.5 14.1
DXO Low Light (ISO) 842 1235
Screen Specs Olympus E-M5 II Pentax K-5 II
Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Optical viewfinder
Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.74x 0.61x
Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
Top-Level Screen no Top Display Control Panel
LCD Framing Live View Live View
Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
LCD Resolution 1037k dots 921k dots
LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fixed screen
Touch Input Touchscreen no Touchscreen
Shooting Specs Olympus E-M5 II Pentax K-5 II
Focus System Contrast-detect AF Phase-detect AF
Manual Focusing AidFocus Peakingno Peaking Feature
Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s 7 shutter flaps/s
Electronic Shutterup to 1/16000sno E-Shutter
Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
Fill Flash no On-Board Flash Built-in Flash
Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
UHS card support UHS-II no
Connectivity Specs Olympus E-M5 II Pentax K-5 II
External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
Studio Flash PC Sync socket PC Sync socket
USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
HDMI Port micro HDMI mini HDMI
Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
Wifi Support Wifi built-in no Wifi
Body Specs Olympus E-M5 II Pentax K-5 II
Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
Battery Type Olympus BLN-1 Pentax D-LI90
Battery Life (CIPA)310 shots per charge740 shots per charge
Body Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45 mm
(4.9 x 3.3 x 1.8 in)
131 x 97 x 73 mm
(5.2 x 3.8 x 2.9 in)
Camera Weight 469 g (16.5 oz) 760 g (26.8 oz)
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