Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-70
The Olympus PEN E-PL1 and the Pentax K-70 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2010 and June 2016. The E-PL1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the K-70 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (E-PL1) and an APS-C (K-70) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, whereas the Pentax provides 24 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus PEN E-PL1 and the Pentax K-70? 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.
Body comparison
The physical size and weight of the Olympus E-PL1 and the Pentax K-70 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The E-PL1 can be obtained in four different colors (black, blue, yellow, white), while the K-70 is available in two color-versions (black, silver).



If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax K-70 is notably larger (42 percent) than the Olympus E-PL1. Moreover, the K-70 is substantially heavier (106 percent) than the E-PL1. It is noteworthy in this context that the K-70 is splash and dust-proof, while the E-PL1 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.
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-PL1 gets 290 shots out of its Olympus BLS-1 battery, while the K-70 can take 410 images on a single charge of its Pentax D-LI109 power pack.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-PL1 | 115 mm | 72 mm | 42 mm | 334 g | 290 | n | Feb 2010 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Pentax K-70 | 126 mm | 93 mm | 74 mm | 688 g | 410 | Y | Jun 2016 | US$ 649 | ebay.com | |
| 3. | Olympus E-620 | 130 mm | 94 mm | 60 mm | 521 g | 500 | n | Feb 2009 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Olympus E-P1 | 121 mm | 70 mm | 36 mm | 355 g | 300 | n | Jun 2009 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Olympus E-P2 | 121 mm | 70 mm | 36 mm | 355 g | 300 | n | Nov 2009 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Olympus E-P3 | 122 mm | 69 mm | 34 mm | 369 g | 330 | n | Jun 2011 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
| 7. | Olympus E-PL2 | 114 mm | 72 mm | 42 mm | 362 g | 280 | n | Jan 2011 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Olympus E-PL3 | 110 mm | 64 mm | 37 mm | 313 g | 300 | n | Jun 2011 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Olympus E-PL9 | 117 mm | 68 mm | 39 mm | 380 g | 350 | n | Feb 2018 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Olympus E-PM1 | 110 mm | 64 mm | 34 mm | 265 g | 330 | n | Jun 2011 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 11. | Panasonic G10 | 124 mm | 84 mm | 74 mm | 388 g | 380 | n | Mar 2010 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 12. | Panasonic GF2 | 113 mm | 68 mm | 33 mm | 310 g | 300 | n | Nov 2010 | US$ 549 | ebay.com | |
| 13. | Pentax K-3 II | 131 mm | 100 mm | 77 mm | 800 g | 720 | Y | Apr 2015 | US$ 1 099 | ebay.com | |
| 14. | Pentax K-3 III | 135 mm | 104 mm | 74 mm | 820 g | 800 | Y | Mar 2021 | US$ 1 999 | amazon.com | |
| 15. | Pentax K-50 | 130 mm | 97 mm | 71 mm | 650 g | 410 | Y | Jun 2013 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 16. | Pentax KP | 132 mm | 101 mm | 76 mm | 703 g | 390 | Y | Jan 2017 | US$ 1 099 | ebay.com | |
| 17. | Pentax K-S2 | 123 mm | 91 mm | 73 mm | 678 g | 410 | Y | Feb 2015 | US$ 749 | ebay.com | |
| Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. 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 E-PL1 was somewhat cheaper (by 8 percent) than the K-70 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to 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-PL1 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Pentax K-70 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the K-70 is 63 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-PL1 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the K-70 offers a 3:2 aspect.

With 24MP, the K-70 offers a higher resolution than the E-PL1 (12.2MP), but the K-70 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.91μm versus 4.29μm for the E-PL1). Yet, the K-70 is a much more recent model (by 6 years and 4 months) than the E-PL1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the K-70 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.
The resolution advantage of the Pentax K-70 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the K-70 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-PL1 are 20.2 x 15.1 inches or 51.2 x 38.4 cm for good quality, 16.1 x 12.1 inches or 41 x 30.7 cm for very good quality, and 13.4 x 10.1 inches or 34.1 x 25.6 cm for excellent quality prints.
The K-70 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.
Unlike the E-PL1, the K-70 has the capacity to capture high quality composite images 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 PEN E-PL1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax K-70 are ISO 100 to ISO 102400 (no boost).
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.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-PL1 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 720/30p | 21.5 | 10.1 | 487 | 54 | |
| 2. | Pentax K-70 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60i | 23.8 | 13.1 | 1639 | 80 | |
| 3. | Olympus E-620 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | none | 21.3 | 10.3 | 536 | 55 | |
| 4. | Olympus E-P1 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 720/30p | 21.4 | 10.4 | 536 | 55 | |
| 5. | Olympus E-P2 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 720/30p | 21.5 | 10.4 | 505 | 56 | |
| 6. | Olympus E-P3 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 1080/60i | 20.8 | 10.1 | 536 | 51 | |
| 7. | Olympus E-PL2 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 720/30p | 21.4 | 10.2 | 573 | 55 | |
| 8. | Olympus E-PL3 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 1080/60i | 20.9 | 10.3 | 499 | 52 | |
| 9. | Olympus E-PL9 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 23.1 | 12.8 | 1162 | 74 | |
| 10. | Olympus E-PM1 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 1080/60i | 21.0 | 10.3 | 499 | 52 | |
| 11. | Panasonic G10 | Four Thirds | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 720/30p | 21.2 | 10.1 | 411 | 52 | |
| 12. | Panasonic GF2 | Four Thirds | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/60i | 21.2 | 10.3 | 506 | 54 | |
| 13. | Pentax K-3 II | APS-C | 24.1 | 6016 | 4000 | 1080/60i | 23.6 | 13.6 | 1106 | 80 | |
| 14. | Pentax K-3 III | APS-C | 25.6 | 6192 | 4128 | 4K/30p | 24.2 | 13.7 | 2083 | 85 | |
| 15. | Pentax K-50 | APS-C | 16.1 | 4928 | 3264 | 1080/30p | 23.7 | 13.0 | 1120 | 79 | |
| 16. | Pentax KP | APS-C | 24.1 | 6016 | 4000 | 1080/60i | 23.9 | 13.2 | 1699 | 81 | |
| 17. | Pentax K-S2 | APS-C | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/30p | 23.6 | 12.9 | 1514 | 79 | |
| Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. | |||||||||||
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the K-70 provides a better video resolution than the E-PL1. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60i, while the Olympus is limited to 720/30p.
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the K-70 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the E-PL1 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the E-PL1 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the VF-2. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-PL1, the Pentax K-70, and comparable cameras.

| 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-PL1 | optional | n | 2.7 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 3.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 2. | Pentax K-70 | optical | n | 3.0 / 921 | swivel | n | 1/6000s | 6.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 3. | Olympus E-620 | optical | n | 2.7 / 230 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 4.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 4. | Olympus E-P1 | none | n | 3.0 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | n | Y | |
| 5. | Olympus E-P2 | optional | n | 3.0 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | n | Y | |
| 6. | Olympus E-P3 | optional | n | 3.0 / 614 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 7. | Olympus E-PL2 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 8. | Olympus E-PL3 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 5.5/s | n | Y | |
| 9. | Olympus E-PL9 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.6/s | Y | Y | |
| 10. | Olympus E-PM1 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 5.5/s | n | Y | |
| 11. | Panasonic G10 | 202 | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 2.6/s | Y | n | |
| 12. | Panasonic GF2 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 2.6/s | Y | n | |
| 13. | Pentax K-3 II | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1037 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 8.3/s | n | Y | |
| 14. | Pentax K-3 III | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1620 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 12.0/s | n | Y | |
| 15. | Pentax K-50 | optical | n | 3.0 / 921 | fixed | n | 1/6000s | 6.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 16. | Pentax KP | optical | n | 3.0 / 921 | tilting | n | 1/6000s | 7.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 17. | Pentax K-S2 | optical | n | 3.0 / 921 | swivel | n | 1/6000s | 5.4/s | Y | Y | |
| Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. | |||||||||||
The Pentax K-70 has 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.
The E-PL1 writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the K-70 uses SDXC cards. The K-70 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the E-PL1 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 PEN E-PL1 and Pentax K-70 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-PL1 | Y | stereo / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 2. | Pentax K-70 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 3. | Olympus E-620 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 4. | Olympus E-P1 | Y | stereo / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 5. | Olympus E-P2 | Y | stereo / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 6. | Olympus E-P3 | Y | stereo / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 7. | Olympus E-PL2 | Y | stereo / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 8. | Olympus E-PL3 | Y | stereo / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 9. | Olympus E-PL9 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| 10. | Olympus E-PM1 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 11. | Panasonic G10 | Y | mono / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 12. | Panasonic GF2 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 13. | Pentax K-3 II | Y | mono / mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| 14. | Pentax K-3 III | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
| 15. | Pentax K-50 | Y | mono / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 16. | Pentax KP | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | - | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 17. | Pentax K-S2 | Y | mono / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - |
It is notable that the K-70 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the E-PL1 does not provide wifi capability.
Both the E-PL1 and the K-70 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-PL1 was replaced by the Olympus E-PL2, while the K-70 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the E-PL1 and K-70 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-PL1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Pentax K-70 Manual.
Review summary
So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus E-PL1 or the Pentax K-70 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Reasons to prefer the Olympus PEN E-PL1:
- Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
- More compact: Is smaller (115x72mm vs 126x93mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
- Less heavy: Is lighter (by 354g or 51 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
- More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
- More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2010).

Arguments in favor of the Pentax K-70:
- More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 12.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 43%.
- Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
- High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
- Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
- Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
- More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
- Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
- Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/60i vs 720/30p).
- Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
- Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
- Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
- Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.7") for image review and settings control.
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (921k vs 230k dots).
- More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
- More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/6000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
- Longer lasting: Gets more shots (410 versus 290) out of a single battery charge.
- Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
- Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
- Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
- More modern: Reflects 6 years and 4 months of technical progress since the E-PL1 launch.
If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the K-70 is the clear winner of the contest (23 : 5 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 wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-PL1 and the Pentax K-70 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 specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the E-PL1 and the K-70 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.
Expert reviews
This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major 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.

| Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-PL1 | .. | 86/100 | .. | 69/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2010 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Pentax K-70 | 4.5/5 | .. | 4/5 | 79/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2016 | US$ 649 | ebay.com | |
| 3. | Olympus E-620 | 3/5 | 88/100 | .. | 72/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2009 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Olympus E-P1 | .. | + | .. | 66/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2009 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Olympus E-P2 | 3/5 | + | .. | 69/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Nov 2009 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Olympus E-P3 | .. | 83/100 | .. | 74/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2011 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
| 7. | Olympus E-PL2 | 3/5 | 83/100 | .. | 71/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2011 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Olympus E-PL3 | 3/5 | + + | .. | 72/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Jun 2011 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Olympus E-PL9 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2018 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Olympus E-PM1 | .. | 86/100 | .. | 71/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2011 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 11. | Panasonic G10 | 3/5 | .. | .. | 70/100 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Mar 2010 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 12. | Panasonic GF2 | 3/5 | 82/100 | .. | 70/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Nov 2010 | US$ 549 | ebay.com | |
| 13. | Pentax K-3 II | 4.5/5 | .. | .. | .. | 5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2015 | US$ 1 099 | ebay.com | |
| 14. | Pentax K-3 III | 4/5 | .. | 3/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | .. | Mar 2021 | US$ 1 999 | amazon.com | |
| 15. | Pentax K-50 | 5/5 | .. | .. | .. | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2013 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 16. | Pentax KP | 4/5 | .. | 3/5 | 82/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2017 | US$ 1 099 | ebay.com | |
| 17. | Pentax K-S2 | 4.5/5 | .. | .. | .. | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | US$ 749 | ebay.com | |
| Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||||
The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, 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.

Check E-PL1 offers at
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Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon 50D vs Olympus E-PL1
- Canon 50D vs Pentax K-70
- Canon 5D vs Pentax K-70
- Canon G1 X vs Olympus E-PL1
- Canon G9 X Mark II vs Olympus E-PL1
- Fujifilm XP140 vs Olympus E-PL1
- Leica M8 vs Olympus E-PL1
- Leica V-LUX 2 vs Pentax K-70
- Leica V-LUX 3 vs Pentax K-70
- Nikon D3X vs Pentax K-70
- Nikon D7000 vs Olympus E-PL1
- Pentax K-70 vs Sony RX1R II
Specifications: Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-70
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 Model | Olympus E-PL1 | Pentax K-70 |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | Digital single lens reflex |
| Camera Lens | Micro Four Thirds lenses | Pentax K mount lenses |
| Launch Date | February 2010 | June 2016 |
| Launch Price | USD 599 | USD 649 |
| Sensor Specs | Olympus E-PL1 | Pentax K-70 |
| Sensor Technology | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor Format | Four Thirds Sensor | APS-C Sensor |
| Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm | 23.5 x 15.6 mm |
| Sensor Area | 224.9 mm2 | 366.6 mm2 |
| Sensor Diagonal | 21.6 mm | 28.2 mm |
| Crop Factor | 2.0x | 1.5x |
| Sensor Resolution | 12.2 Megapixels | 24 Megapixels |
| Image Resolution | 4032 x 3024 pixels | 6000 x 4000 pixels |
| Pixel Pitch | 4.29 μm | 3.91 μm |
| Pixel Density | 5.42 MP/cm2 | 6.55 MP/cm2 |
| Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | no AA filter |
| Movie Capability | 720/30p Video | 1080/60i Video |
| ISO Setting | 200 - 3,200 ISO | 100 - 102,400 ISO |
| Image Processor | Truepic V | PRIME MII |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 54 | .. |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 21.5 | .. |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 10.1 | .. |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 487 | .. |
| Screen Specs | Olympus E-PL1 | Pentax K-70 |
| Viewfinder Type | Viewfinder optional | Optical viewfinder |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.63x | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
| Rear LCD Size | 2.7inch | 3.0inch |
| LCD Resolution | 230k dots | 921k dots |
| LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | Swivel screen |
| Shooting Specs | Olympus E-PL1 | Pentax K-70 |
| Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | Phase-detect AF |
| Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | Focus Peaking |
| Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/2000s | 1/6000s |
| Continuous Shooting | 3 shutter flaps/s | 6 shutter flaps/s |
| Time-Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | Intervalometer built-in |
| Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | In-body stabilization |
| Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | Built-in Flash |
| Storage Medium | SDHC cards | SDXC cards |
| Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Single card slot |
| UHS card support | no | UHS-I |
| Connectivity Specs | Olympus E-PL1 | Pentax K-70 |
| External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
| HDMI Port | mini HDMI | mini HDMI |
| Microphone Port | no MIC socket | External MIC port |
| Wifi Support | no Wifi | Wifi built-in |
| Body Specs | Olympus E-PL1 | Pentax K-70 |
| Environmental Sealing | not weather sealed | Weathersealed body |
| Battery Type | Olympus BLS-1 | Pentax D-LI109 |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 290 shots per charge | 410 shots per charge |
| Body Dimensions |
115 x 72 x 42 mm (4.5 x 2.8 x 1.7 in) |
126 x 93 x 74 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.9 in) |
| Camera Weight | 334 g (11.8 oz) | 688 g (24.3 oz) |

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