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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K20D

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Pentax K20D front
Portability
59
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K20D 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-5
Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Announced June 2008
  • Old Model is Pentax K10D
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K20D Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax K20D, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and K20D (15MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and K20D (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was announced 4 months earlier than the K20D so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-3 grades versus the K20D for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Pentax K20D

 E-3 K20D 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Olympus E-3

 K20D E-3 
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Pentax K20D

 E-3 K20D 
AnnouncedFebruary 2008June 2008Similar generation
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K20D Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 comes with outside measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) and the Pentax K20D has proportions of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax K20D in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-3 vs the K20D.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K20D size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and K20D is 56 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K20D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K20D Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizes just by going over specs. The pic below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and K20D.

All in all, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-3 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K20D will deliver greater detail with its extra 5 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images much more aggressively.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K20D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K20D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K20D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Pentax K20D
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Street photography camera
69
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment proof
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Sports photography camera
57
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography factors
Pentax K20D Travel photography factors
55
environment proof
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
64
environment proofing
MP count good (15MP)
built-in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography details
Pentax K20D Landscape photography details
56
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment proof
tiny screen (2.5")
sensor resolution low (10MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
70
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
screen is small (2.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Pentax K20D Vlogging factors
18
no video shooting
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K20D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Pentax K20D
 Olympus E-3Pentax K20D
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-3 Pentax K20D
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2008-02-20 2008-06-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4672 x 3104
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
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 rate 5.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 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 support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 lbs) 800g (1.76 lbs)
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 rating 56 65
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 11.1
DXO Low light rating 571 639
Other
Battery ID - D-LI50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $670 $700