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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed November 2007
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-510
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-520
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Announced April 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-3
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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-510 and Pentax K-3 II, both Advanced DSLR cameras by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-510 was introduced 8 years prior to the K-3 II which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-510 matches up vs the K-3 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Pentax K-3 II

 E-510 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Olympus E-510

 K-3 II E-510 
AnnouncedApril 2015November 2007More modern by 90 months
Display dimension3.2"2.5"Larger display (+0.7")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Pentax K-3 II

 E-510 K-3 II 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-510 features exterior measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 II 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).

Take a look at the Olympus E-510 and Pentax K-3 II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-510 vs the K-3 II.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-510 and K-3 II is 69 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes just by checking out specs. The picture here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-510 and K-3 II.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-510 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-3 II will produce greater detail using its extra 14MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged E-510 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography details
56
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
79
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography info
Pentax K-3 II Street photography info
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (490g)
no articulating screen
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
great high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Sports photography camera
52
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10MP)
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (720 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography factors
52
lighter than competitors (490g)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
56
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (24MP)
not so great battery life (720 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography information
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
megapixel count low (10MP)
no Time Lapse function
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
2 card slots
not so great battery life (720 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging highlights
9
lack of video recording
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic support
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Pentax K-3 II
 Olympus E-510Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-510 Pentax K-3 II
Alternative name EVOLT E-510 -
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2007-11-23 2015-04-23
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1600 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 8.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490 gr (1.08 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 80
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 13.6
DXO Low light score 442 1106
Other
Battery life - 720 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 Two
Launch cost $550 $829