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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Launched June 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-410
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 II
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Below is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-420 versus Pentax K-3, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-420 was launched 6 years prior to the K-3 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-420 scores versus the K-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Pentax K-3

 E-420 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-420

 K-3 E-420 
IntroducedApril 2014June 2008More recent by 70 months
Display dimension3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-3

 E-420 K-3 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 features outer dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Olympus E-420 versus Pentax K-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-420 vs the K-3.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and K-3 is 77 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements just by viewing technical specs. The photograph here will offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and K-3.

As you can tell, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-420 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-3 will provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 14MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older E-420 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography information
56
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
79
manual focus
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography advice
Pentax K-3 Street photography advice
64
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (426 grams)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
very good ISO range (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Pentax K-3
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
slow fps (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect AF
low battery life (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition (426 grams)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
60
weather proof
decent megapixels (24MP)
flash built-in
low battery life (560 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Landscape photography camera
47
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
not so great battery pack (500 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
77
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
low battery life (560 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone port
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus E-420Pentax K-3
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-420 Pentax K-3
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2008-06-23 2014-04-10
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1600 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 3 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3.2"
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426g (0.94 lbs) 800g (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 13.4
DXO Low light rating 527 1216
Other
Battery life 500 pictures 560 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One Dual
Pricing at release $999 $639