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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 III

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Pentax K-3 Mark III front
Portability
58
Imaging
71
Features
86
Overall
77

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 III 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
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-1
  • Successor is Olympus E-5
Pentax K-3 III
(Full Review)
  • 26MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600000
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 820g - 135 x 104 x 74mm
  • Introduced March 2021
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 III Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 III, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and K-3 III (26MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and K-3 III (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was introduced 14 years earlier than the K-3 III which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-3 grades against the K-3 III for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-3 K-3 III 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

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

 K-3 III E-3 
IntroducedMarch 2021February 2008More modern by 159 months
Screen size3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution1620k230kCrisper screen (+1390k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 E-3 K-3 III 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 III Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 provides external dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 III has proportions of 135mm x 104mm x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9") along with a weight of 820 grams (1.81 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 III in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-3 compared to the K-3 III.

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

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and K-3 III is 56 and 58 respectively.

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

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 III Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through technical specs. The pic here may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and K-3 III.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-3 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-3 III will show greater detail using its extra 16 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

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

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

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-3 III as a Portrait photography camera
56
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
82
focusing manually
MP count excellent (26 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-3 III Street photography highlights
69
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
70
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
includes focus by touch
weather proofing
great ISO range (1,600,000)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 III as a Sports photography camera
57
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count excellent (26 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
bad battery (800 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 III as a Travel photography camera
55
environment proof
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
64
weather proofing
has bluetooth
includes focus by touch
MP count excellent (26 megapixels)
bad battery (800 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-3 III Landscape photography information
56
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count excellent (26MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (1,600,000)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
bad battery (800 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-3
Vlogging with Pentax K-3 III
18
no video
35
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has mic support
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-3 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Pentax K-3 III
 Olympus E-3Pentax K-3 Mark III
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-3 Pentax K-3 Mark III
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2008-02-20 2021-03-31
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23 x 15.5mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 356.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 26 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 6192 x 4128
Max native ISO 3200 1600000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 101
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 156
Crop factor 2.1 1.6
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3.2"
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,620k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow- speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 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 - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 gr (1.96 lb) 820 gr (1.81 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 135 x 104 x 74mm (5.3" x 4.1" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 571 not tested
Other
Battery life - 800 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported in slot 1)
Card slots One Two
Retail price $670 $1,999