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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-r 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
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-1
  • Updated by Olympus E-5
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-3 and Pentax K-r, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the K-r (12MP) is pretty comparable but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and K-r (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was brought out 4 years prior to the K-r which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-3 matches up versus the K-r when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

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

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

 K-r E-3 
IntroducedMarch 2011February 2008More modern by 37 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

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

 E-3 K-r 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 has physical measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) and the Pentax K-r has specifications of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-3 and Pentax K-r in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-3 and the K-r.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and K-r is 56 and 67 respectively.

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

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes only by seeing specs. The picture below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and K-r.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-3 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-r will show greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-r Portrait photography advice
56
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low resolution sensor (10MP)
63
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Street photography camera
69
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-r Sports photography highlights
57
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
55
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery pack (470 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Travel photography camera
55
weather sealing
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (10MP)
47
has built in flash
low battery pack (470 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-r Landscape photography info
56
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
screen is small (2.5")
low resolution sensor (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery pack (470 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging info
Pentax K-r Vlogging info
18
no video recording
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic port
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Pentax K-r
 Olympus E-3Pentax K-r
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-3 Pentax K-r
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2008-02-20 2011-03-11
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 grams (1.96 pounds) 598 grams (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 72
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 12.4
DXO Low light score 571 755
Other
Battery life - 470 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $670 $1,100