OM System
OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Compact pro MFT with IBIS and weather sealing.
$1,199
Launch priceReleased Oct 2019
Pentax
K-1
Original 36MP full-frame Pentax DSLR with 5-axis SR, AA filter simulator, and weather sealing.
$1,799
Launch priceReleased Apr 2016
OM-D E-M5 Mark III is 3.5 years newer.
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Wins
OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Wins
K-1
9 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- AOM-D E-M5 Mark III has higher AF points / zones (1053 vs 101)
- BK-1 has higher RAW buffer depth (120 frames vs 60 frames)
- BK-1 has higher Resolution (36.4 MP vs 20.4 MP)
- AOM-D E-M5 Mark III has lower Weight (580 g vs 1010 g)
- BK-1 has higher EVF resolution (3,690,000 vs 2,360,000)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to shareOM-D E-M5 Mark III
134 × 91 × 72 mm
580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
K-1
137 × 111 × 87 mm
1010 g (2.23 lb / 35.63 oz)
OM-D E-M5 Mark III is 3mm narrower, 20mm shorter, and 15mm thinner than K-1.
OM-D E-M5 Mark III is 430 g lighter than K-1.
Depth (front-to-back): 72mm OM-D E-M5 Mark III · 87mm K-1
Sensor size, to scale
OM-D E-M5 Mark III
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
K-1
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 mm² area
3.8× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
OM-D E-M5 Mark III
✓ more lensesMicro Four Thirds
130+
native lenses available
K-1
Pentax K
70+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
OM-D E-M5 Mark III
AF low-light limit
-7 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 91, 72
AF points / zones
1053 vs 101 — higher is better
Weight
580 g vs 1010 g — lower is better
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 5 stops — higher is better
Reasons to choose
K-1
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 137, 110.5, 86.5
RAW buffer depth
120 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Resolution
36.4 MP vs 20.4 MP — higher is better
EVF resolution
3,690,000 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
Burst (mechanical)
8 fps vs 6 fps — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
20 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 100 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Pros
- ✓Compact pro
- ✓Weather sealed
- ✓IBIS
Cons
- –Older
- –MFT
- –Superseded
K-1
Pros
- ✓36MP full-frame
- ✓IBIS in DSLR
- ✓AA filter simulator
- ✓Weather sealed
Cons
- –Slow AF vs mirrorless
- –Heavy
- –Superseded by K-1 II
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the OM-D E-M5 Mark III and K-1 at major authorized retailers.
OM System OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Pentax K-1
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for portraits, OM-D E-M5 Mark III or K-1?
K-1 scores 8.0/10 versus 4.0/10 for OM-D E-M5 Mark III — 36.4MP — ample resolution for portraits.
What's the resolution difference between the OM-D E-M5 Mark III and K-1?
OM-D E-M5 Mark III is 20.4 MP and K-1 is 36.4 MP, so the K-1 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the OM-D E-M5 Mark III and K-1 have in-body image stabilization?
OM-D E-M5 Mark III has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while K-1 has 5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the OM-D E-M5 Mark III or the K-1?
OM-D E-M5 Mark III reaches 15 fps electronic. K-1 reaches 20 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the OM-D E-M5 Mark III and K-1?
OM-D E-M5 Mark III weighs 580 g and K-1 weighs 1010 g, so the OM-D E-M5 Mark III is 430 g lighter.
Do the OM-D E-M5 Mark III and K-1 record 4K video?
OM-D E-M5 Mark III: 4K up to 60p. K-1: 4K up to 60p.
Are the OM-D E-M5 Mark III and K-1 weather sealed?
OM-D E-M5 Mark III: Yes. K-1: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the OM-D E-M5 Mark III and 640 shots for the K-1, giving the K-1 the edge.
How much does each cost?
OM-D E-M5 Mark III launched at $1,199 and K-1 at $1,799. The OM-D E-M5 Mark III is $600 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way OM-D E-M5 Mark III vs K-1 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed October 2026.