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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
56
Imaging
45
Features
56
Overall
49
Olympus E-3 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10 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 Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Launched February 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-5
Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Succeeded the Pentax Q
  • Successor is Pentax Q7
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the Q10 (12MP) is relatively similar but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and Q10 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The E-3 was launched 5 years prior to the Q10 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-3 scores against the Q10 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Pentax Q10

 E-3 Q10 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Olympus E-3

 Q10 E-3 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012February 2008More recent by 55 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Pentax Q10

 E-3 Q10 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-3 offers outside dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q10 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-3 and the Q10.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and Q10 is 56 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reviewing specifications. The photograph here might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-3 and Q10.

Plainly, both of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-3 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Pentax Q10 will offer more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older E-3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Portrait photography camera
57
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
48
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Street photography camera
70
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
lighter than average (200 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-3
Sports photography with Pentax Q10
58
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
36
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (5.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography advice
Pentax Q10 Travel photography advice
55
environment proofing
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
60
lighter than average (200 grams)
built-in flash
bad battery life (270 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax Q10 Landscape photography factors
56
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
screen is small (2.5")
sensor resolution low (10MP)
no Time Lapse mode
54
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax Q10 Vlogging highlights
18
no video recording
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (200g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Pentax Q10
 Olympus E-3Pentax Q10
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-3 Pentax Q10
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2008-02-20 2012-09-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Available lenses 45 8
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 7.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 grams (1.96 lb) 200 grams (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 49
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 21.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 10.9
DXO Low light score 571 183
Other
Battery life - 270 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $670 $350