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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Introduced November 2003
  • Updated by Olympus E-3
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-3
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-1 versus Pentax K-3 II, one is a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-1 was unveiled 12 years before the K-3 II which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-1 grades against the K-3 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Pentax K-3 II

 E-1 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Olympus E-1

 K-3 II E-1 
IntroducedApril 2015November 2003More modern by 138 months
Screen dimensions3.2"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.4")
Screen resolution1037k134kCrisper screen (+903k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-3 II

 E-1 K-3 II 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera, you should factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-1 has got physical dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 II has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-1 versus Pentax K-3 II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-1 versus the K-3 II.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and K-3 II is 59 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes only by reviewing specifications. The picture below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-1 and K-3 II.

To sum up, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-1 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-3 II will offer you greater detail having an extra 19MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 II
46
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution low (5MP)
79
has manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography information
Pentax K-3 II Street photography information
57
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
lighter than competition (735g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-1
Sports photography with Pentax K-3 II
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
low fps (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (5MP)
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (720 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Travel photography camera
47
lighter than competition (735g)
environment sealing
doesn't have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (5MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
56
environment sealing
good MP (24 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (720 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography info
46
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is somewhat small (1.8 inches)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (5MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
78
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
two card slots
not so great battery pack (720 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging details
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging details
9
no video shooting
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-3 II
 Olympus E-1Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-1 Pentax K-3 II
Class Pro DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2003-11-29 2015-04-23
Physical type Large SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 5 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 2560 x 1920 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 1.8 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 134 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 8.3 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 735 grams (1.62 pounds) 800 grams (1.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1106
Other
Battery life - 720 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 Two
Pricing at release $1,700 $829