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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E90

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E90 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
  • Announced February 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-1
  • Updated by Olympus E-5
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E90 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-3 and Pentax E90, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the E90 (10MP) is very well matched but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and E90 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was announced 23 months before the E90 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-3 matches up versus the E90 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Pentax E90

 E-3 E90 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Olympus E-3

 E90 E-3 
RevealedJanuary 2010February 2008Fresher by 23 months
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Pentax E90

 E-3 E90 
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-3 has got outer dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Pentax E90 has measurements of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-3 and Pentax E90 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-3 and the E90.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and E90 is 56 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing purely by looking at specifications. The photograph below should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and E90.

To sum up, both cameras have the same megapixel count but different sensor sizing. The E-3 provides the larger sensor which will make getting shallower depth of field simpler. The older E-3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Pentax E90
56
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
19
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography information
Pentax E90 Street photography information
69
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
47
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Sports photography camera
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
16
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography factors
Pentax E90 Travel photography factors
55
environment proofing
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10MP)
50
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (32mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography advice
Pentax E90 Landscape photography advice
56
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
low megapixels (10MP)
no Timelapse recording
22
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (32mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax E90 Vlogging highlights
18
no video recording
22
wide angle not great (32mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Pentax E90
 Olympus E-3Pentax Optio E90
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-3 Pentax Optio E90
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2008-02-20 2010-01-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 32-95mm (3.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 6cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye -
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 pounds) 145 gr (0.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 571 not tested
Other
Battery model - 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $670 $100