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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-3
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Replacement is Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Olympus E-5 and Pentax K-3, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-5 was introduced 4 years before the K-3 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-5 matches up against the K-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Pentax K-3

 E-5 K-3 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-5

 K-3 E-5 
LaunchedApril 2014February 2011More recent by 38 months
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k920kSharper screen (+117k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Pentax K-3

 E-5 K-3 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-5 features outer dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 has measurements 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-5 and Pentax K-3 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 change based on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-5 and the K-3.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-5 and K-3 is 58 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading technical specs. The photograph underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and K-3.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-5 using its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax K-3 will deliver extra detail using its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-5 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
79
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
71
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
good ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-3 Sports photography advice
59
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography details
Pentax K-3 Travel photography details
56
weather proofing
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse recording
low resolution (12MP)
60
environment sealing
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
low battery pack (560 shots)
does not have selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
low resolution (12 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
low battery pack (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 as a Vlogging camera
64
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
includes external mic jack
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic jack
does not have selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus E-5Pentax K-3
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-5 Pentax K-3
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-02-03 2014-04-10
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V+ Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 27
Cross type focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 grams (1.76 lb) 800 grams (1.76 lb)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 13.4
DXO Low light rating 519 1216
Other
Battery life 870 photos 560 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 2 2
Retail cost $1,700 $639