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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 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 Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Released February 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-1
  • Successor is Olympus E-5
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Announced January 2006
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax ist DL2, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and ist DL2 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-3 was manufactured 2 years after the ist DL2 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-3 scores against the ist DL2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Pentax ist DL2

 E-3 ist DL2 
AnnouncedFebruary 2008January 2006Newer by 26 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution230k210kClearer display (+20k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus E-3

 ist DL2 E-3 

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Pentax ist DL2

 E-3 ist DL2 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display sizing2.5"2.5"Equivalent display measurement
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 features outer measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Pentax ist DL2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax ist DL2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-3 compared to the ist DL2.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-3 and ist DL2 is 56 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions only by checking out technical specs. The pic below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-3 and ist DL2.

As you have seen, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-3 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus E-3 will provide greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The more modern E-3 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Portrait photography camera
56
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (10MP)
50
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 Street photography info
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography info
69
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (565g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography highlights
57
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
38
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Travel photography camera
55
weather proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
52
lighter than competitors in class (565g)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (6MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography info
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography info
56
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
small screen (2.5")
megapixel count low (10MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
46
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-3
Vlogging with Pentax ist DL2
18
lack of video recording
22
lighter than competitors in class (565 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution ( resolution)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus E-3Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-3 Pentax ist DL2
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2008-02-20 2006-01-27
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 10 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 5
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Total lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m -
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Highest video resolution None -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 lbs) 565g (1.25 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $670 -