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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
76
Features
52
Overall
66

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Released February 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-5
Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Launched March 2010
  • New Model is Pentax 645Z
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Pro DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and 645D (40MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and 645D (Medium format) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was introduced 24 months earlier than the 645D which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-3 matches up against the 645D when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Pentax 645D

 E-3 645D 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Olympus E-3

 645D E-3 
LaunchedMarch 2010February 2008More recent by 24 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Pentax 645D

 E-3 645D 
Focus manually More exact focus
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 features external measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645D has dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") having a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-3 vs the 645D.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and 645D is 56 and 50 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements simply by seeing specs. The graphic underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and 645D.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-3 having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax 645D will produce more detail using its extra 30MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The older E-3 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography factors
Pentax 645D Portrait photography factors
57
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
77
you can focus manually
great resolution (40MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax 645D as a Street photography camera
70
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
58
sensor size is big (Medium format)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography information
Pentax 645D Sports photography information
58
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
63
great resolution (40 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no image stabilization
bad battery pack (800 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography advice
Pentax 645D Travel photography advice
55
weather proofing
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
55
environment proofing
great resolution (40MP)
bad battery pack (800 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography details
Pentax 645D Landscape photography details
56
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
screen is small (2.5 inches)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
72
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
great resolution (40MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
no low pass filter
supports RAW files
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
bad battery pack (800 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax 645D as a Vlogging camera
18
can't record video
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Pentax 645D
 Olympus E-3Pentax 645D
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-3 Pentax 645D
Class Advanced DSLR Pro DSLR
Released 2008-02-20 2010-03-10
Body design Mid-size SLR Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 40 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 7264 x 5440
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Available lenses 45 6
Focal length multiplier 2.1 0.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890g (1.96 lb) 1480g (3.26 lb)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 82
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 24.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 12.6
DXO Low light score 571 1262
Other
Battery life - 800 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Storage slots One 2
Pricing at release $670 $4,000