• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

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Differences

Olympus E-P5 advantages over Pentax K-S1

  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Thinner
    37 mm vs 69 mm
    Thinner
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/320 vs 1/180 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Lighter weight
    545g vs 765g
    Lighter weight
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.9 fps vs 5.4 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Pentax K-S1 advantages over Olympus E-P5

  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Less expensive
    $800 vs $1450 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,061 vs 895 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 480 vs 330 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    83 mm vs 34 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More pixels
    20.1 vs 16.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs Fixed
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Wider angle kit lens
    27 mm vs 34 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-S1

Review Excerpt

  • Handsome retro styling; Very good image quality and dynamic range, with competitive high ISO performance; Lightning fast autofocusing; Excellent burst speeds (nearly 10fps at full res); Top shutter speed of 1/8000 second; Sharp, bright 17mm f/1.8 kit lens; 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD with 1.04M dots of resolution.

  • Heavier than some mirrorless models; Weak flash; Below average battery life; No built-in viewfinder (but EVF available in a kit or for separate purchase); A bit pricey compared to the similar E-M5, which offers a built-in EVF and weather sealing at about the same price.

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-P3

Olympus E-P5
Olympus E-P3
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $561
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach
Pentax K-S1
Olympus E-P3
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $561
  • 4/3
  • Thinner
  • Lighter weight

Compared to Olympus E-M5

Olympus E-P5
Olympus E-M5
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach
Pentax K-S1
Olympus E-M5
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen

Compared to Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-P5
Panasonic GX7
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Thinner
  • $648
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Pentax K-S1
Panasonic GX7
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
  • $648
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Nikon D5500

Olympus E-P5
Nikon D5500
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Larger sensor
Pentax K-S1
Nikon D5500
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen

Compared to Pentax K-S2

Olympus E-P5
Pentax K-S2
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Thinner
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Pentax K-S1
Pentax K-S2
  • $502
  • APS-C
  • Higher-res screen
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
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