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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(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
  • Launched February 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-5
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Replaced the Pentax K-30
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus E-3 and Pentax K-50, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was brought out 6 years before the K-50 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-3 grades versus the K-50 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Pentax K-50

 E-3 K-50 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus E-3

 K-50 E-3 
AnnouncedNovember 2013February 2008Newer by 70 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Pentax K-50

 E-3 K-50 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 provides external measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-50 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-3 and Pentax K-50 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-3 and the K-50.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and K-50 is 56 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions purely by looking at technical specs. The pic underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and K-50.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-3 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-50 will give extra detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography information
57
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography details
Pentax K-50 Street photography details
70
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
above average ISO range (51,600)
no articulating screen
more heavy than competitors in class (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-3
Sports photography with Pentax K-50
58
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography information
Pentax K-50 Travel photography information
55
environment proofing
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
no Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (10MP)
56
weather proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery pack (410 per charge)
more heavy than competitors in class (650 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography info
56
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
not so great battery pack (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-50 as a Vlogging camera
18
lack of video recording
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (650 grams)
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus E-3Pentax K-50
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-3 Pentax K-50
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2008-02-20 2013-11-27
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lbs) 650 grams (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 13.0
DXO Low light score 571 1120
Other
Battery life - 410 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
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 SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $670 $610