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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E85

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Pentax Optio E85 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
10
Overall
25

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E85 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-1
  • Successor is Olympus E-5
Pentax E85
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 32-96mm (F2.9-5.2) lens
  • 145g - 93 x 58 x 24mm
  • Revealed September 2009
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E85 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax E85, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the E85 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and E85 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was launched 19 months prior to the E85 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax E85 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-3 scores against the E85 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Pentax E85

 E-3 E85 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax E85 over the Olympus E-3

 E85 E-3 
RevealedSeptember 2009February 2008More modern by 19 months
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Pentax E85

 E-3 E85 
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E85 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-3 comes with physical 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) whilst the Pentax E85 has specifications of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax E85 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-3 against the E85.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E85 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and E85 is 56 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E85 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E85 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through technical specs. The image underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and E85.

As you can tell, both of those cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-3 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Pentax E85 will render more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E85 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E85 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Pentax E85
56
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
21
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography highlights
Pentax E85 Street photography highlights
69
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography info
Pentax E85 Sports photography info
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
weather proof
has phase detect auto focus
max fps low (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
17
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography information
Pentax E85 Travel photography information
55
weather proof
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography information
Pentax E85 Landscape photography information
56
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
23
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging factors
Pentax E85 Vlogging factors
18
can't record video
22
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
no microphone port
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Pentax E85
 Olympus E-3Pentax Optio E85
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-3 Pentax Optio E85
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-02-20 2009-09-17
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 32-96mm (3.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.9-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 3.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video file format - Motion JPEG
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lbs) 145 grams (0.32 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 93 x 58 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9")
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 ID - D-LI95
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $670 $0