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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K10D

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Pentax K10D front
Portability
59
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K10D 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-5
Pentax K10D
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 793g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Launched December 2006
  • Replacement is Pentax K20D
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K10D Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax K10D, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the K10D (10MP) is pretty close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and K10D (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-3 was brought out 15 months after the K10D which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-3 grades vs the K10D for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Pentax K10D

 E-3 K10D 
LaunchedFebruary 2008December 2006More modern by 15 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution230k210kClearer screen (+20k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K10D over the Olympus E-3

 K10D E-3 

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Pentax K10D

 E-3 K10D 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimension2.5"2.5"Identical screen sizing
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K10D Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 has got external measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Pentax K10D has measurements of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") with a weight of 793 grams (1.75 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax K10D in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-3 versus the K10D.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K10D size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and K10D is 56 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K10D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K10D Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizes only by researching technical specs. The image here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and K10D.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-3 comes with the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field tougher. The more recent E-3 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K10D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K10D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K10D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Pentax K10D
56
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution (10 megapixels)
52
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
low resolution (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K10D as a Street photography camera
69
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
64
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-3
Sports photography with Pentax K10D
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
low resolution (10MP)
52
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography factors
Pentax K10D Travel photography factors
55
weather sealing
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse recording
low resolution (10 megapixels)
49
weather proof
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
low resolution (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography details
Pentax K10D Landscape photography details
56
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
screen is small (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
low resolution (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging details
Pentax K10D Vlogging details
18
can't record video
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K10D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Pentax K10D
 Olympus E-3Pentax K10D
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-3 Pentax K10D
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2008-02-20 2006-12-15
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Auto Red Eye
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 pounds) 793 gr (1.75 pounds)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 66
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 11.6
DXO Low light score 571 522
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $670 $700