Pentax K-5 IIs vs Olympus E-M1 II

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Pentax K-5 IIs vs Olympus E-M1 II

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APS-C 369.7mm²
16.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-5 IIs Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-5 IIs.

4/3 226.2mm²
20.4 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M1 II Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus E-M1 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M1 II.
Compare Olympus E-M1 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus E-M1 II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Olympus E-M1 Mark III
Compare E-M1 II vs E-M1 Mark III
Compare Pentax K-5 IIs vs Olympus E-M1 Mark III

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Differences

Pentax K-5 IIs advantages over Olympus E-M1 II

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.81 vs 3.36 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.60 vs 0.8 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
K-5 IIs test data on DxO Mark E-M1 II test data on DxO Mark

14.1 vs 12.8 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

740 vs 440 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Olympus E-M1 II advantages over Pentax K-5 IIs

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Newer
8 years vs 12 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Less shutter lag
0.11 vs 0.23 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.74x vs 0.61x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
20.4 vs 16.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
60.6 fps vs 6.7 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
51 vs 28 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
60.6 fps vs 6.7 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
51 vs 22 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
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

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
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Adorama
Read K-5 IIs User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read E-M1 II User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

Noticeably better sharpness than standard K-5 II; Compact yet control-rich body packs in the features; Updated autofocus system focuses in near-darkness; Fully weather-sealed; Very good dynamic range; In-body image stabilization; Dual-axis level with horizon correction.
Prone to moire, aliasing, and false color artifacts; Can seem intimidating at first; Fewer autofocus points than competitors; Doesn't take advantage of high-speed UHS-I flash cards; Movie feature set is very dated and file sizes huge.
Read our Pentax K-5 IIs Review

Excellent image quality; Very good dynamic range & high ISO performance; Fantastic C-AF performance; Incredible burst rates, even with RAW; 4K UHD & Cinema 4K (DCI) video; Clean HDMI; Dual SD card slots.
Expensive; Menus still confusing; UHS-II support only on one card slot; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash.
Read our Olympus E-M1 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Fujifilm X-T2

Pentax K-5 IIs

Fujifilm X-T2

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-5 IIs vs Fujifilm X-T2

Olympus E-M1 II

Fujifilm X-T2

$899
4/3

Lens selection
Less expensive

$999
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M1 II vs Fujifilm X-T2

Compared to Sony A35

Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A35

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$567
APS-C

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A35

Olympus E-M1 II

Sony A35

$899
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

$567
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A35

Compared to Sony A57

Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A57

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$800
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A57

Olympus E-M1 II

Sony A57

$899
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

$800
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A57

Compared to Sony A37

Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A37

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$600
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Pentax K-5 IIs vs Sony A37

Olympus E-M1 II

Sony A37

$899
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

$600
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A37

Compared to Panasonic G7

Pentax K-5 IIs

Panasonic G7

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$498
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

Compare Pentax K-5 IIs vs Panasonic G7

Olympus E-M1 II

Panasonic G7

$899
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
High resolution composite

$498
4/3

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic G7

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