Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-1
56 Imaging
44 Features
56 Overall
48
55 Imaging
75 Features
82 Overall
77
Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- No Video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
- Announced February 2008
- Older Model is Olympus E-1
- Newer Model is Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
- 36MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 204800
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
- Announced February 2016
- Later Model is Pentax K-1 II
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On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax K-1, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizing.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthThe E-3 was introduced 9 years prior to the K-1 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).
Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-3 matches up versus the K-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
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This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-3 & Pentax K-1. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-3 Gallery & Pentax K-1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Pentax K-1
| E-3 | K-1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selfie screen | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus E-3
| K-1 | E-3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | February 2016 | February 2008 | More recent by 97 months | |
| Display dimensions | 3.2" | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.7") | |
| Display resolution | 1037k | 230k | Sharper display (+807k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Pentax K-1
| E-3 | K-1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually | More exact focus | |||
| Display type | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated display | |
| Touch display | Neither provides Touch display |
Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison
In case you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 provides external measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has specifications of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).
Contrast the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax K-1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-3 compared to the K-1.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and K-1 is 56 and 55 respectively.
Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over specifications. The photograph below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and K-1.
Plainly, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-3 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-1 will deliver greater detail using its extra 26 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.
Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications
| Olympus E-3 | Pentax K-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand Name | Olympus | Pentax |
| Model type | Olympus E-3 | Pentax K-1 |
| Type | Advanced DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
| Announced | 2008-02-20 | 2016-02-17 |
| Body design | Mid-size SLR | Mid-size SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Powered by | TruePic III | - |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | Full frame |
| Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 35.9 x 24mm |
| Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 861.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 10MP | 36MP |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 3:2 |
| Max resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 7360 x 4912 |
| Max native ISO | 3200 | 204800 |
| Lowest native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW files | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Touch focus | ||
| Autofocus continuous | ||
| Single autofocus | ||
| Autofocus tracking | ||
| Autofocus selectice | ||
| Autofocus center weighted | ||
| Multi area autofocus | ||
| Live view autofocus | ||
| Face detection autofocus | ||
| Contract detection autofocus | ||
| Phase detection autofocus | ||
| Total focus points | 11 | 33 |
| Cross type focus points | - | 25 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax KAF2 |
| Number of lenses | 45 | 151 |
| Crop factor | 2.1 | 1 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of screen | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated |
| Screen diagonal | 2.5" | 3.2" |
| Resolution of screen | 230 thousand dot | 1,037 thousand dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch function | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical (pentaprism) | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.58x | 0.7x |
| Features | ||
| Min shutter speed | 60 secs | 30 secs |
| Max shutter speed | 1/8000 secs | 1/8000 secs |
| Continuous shutter speed | 5.0 frames/s | 4.4 frames/s |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated flash | ||
| Flash distance | 13.00 m | no built-in flash |
| Flash options | 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 |
| External flash | ||
| AEB | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Max flash sync | 1/250 secs | 1/200 secs |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment metering | ||
| Average metering | ||
| Spot metering | ||
| Partial metering | ||
| AF area metering | ||
| Center weighted metering | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) |
| Max video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
| Video format | - | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Mic jack | ||
| Headphone jack | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | Built-In |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | Built-in |
| Physical | ||
| Environment seal | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 890g (1.96 lbs) | 1010g (2.23 lbs) |
| Physical dimensions | 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") | 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall rating | 56 | 96 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 21.6 | 25.4 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.5 | 14.6 |
| DXO Low light rating | 571 | 3280 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | - | 760 images |
| Battery form | - | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | - | D-LI90 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) |
| Time lapse feature | ||
| Storage media | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) |
| Storage slots | One | 2 |
| Cost at release | $670 | $1,499 |