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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 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
  • Announced February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Successor is Olympus E-5
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • 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 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax K-3, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was revealed 7 years prior to the K-3 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-3 scores against the K-3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-3 K-3 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

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

 K-3 E-3 
IntroducedApril 2014February 2008Fresher by 74 months
Display size3.2"2.5"Larger display (+0.7")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

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

 E-3 K-3 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 comes with outer dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax K-3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-3 compared to the K-3.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and K-3 is 56 and 59 respectively.

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

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and K-3.

As you can see, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-3 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-3 will deliver more detail because of its extra 14MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography information
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (10MP)
79
manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography features
Pentax K-3 Street photography features
69
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
great ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-3
Sports photography with Pentax K-3
57
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proof
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
MP count low (10MP)
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
low battery (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography information
Pentax K-3 Travel photography information
55
environment proof
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
60
environment proofing
good MP (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery (560 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Landscape photography camera
56
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
great ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
2 card slots
low battery (560 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 Vlogging factors
18
lack of video recording
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone support
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus E-3Pentax K-3
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-3 Pentax K-3
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2008-02-20 2014-04-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 3.2"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lb) 800 grams (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 80
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 13.4
DXO Low light score 571 1216
Other
Battery life - 560 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Two
Retail price $670 $639