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Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax ist DL2 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Introduced February 2020
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II
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-M1 III vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Here is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-M1 III versus Pentax ist DL2, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and ist DL2 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 III was revealed 14 years later than the ist DL2 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-M1 III matches up vs the ist DL2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Pentax ist DL2

 E-M1 III ist DL2 
AnnouncedFebruary 2020January 2006Fresher by 171 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k210kCrisper display (+827k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus E-M1 III

 ist DL2 E-M1 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Pentax ist DL2

 E-M1 III ist DL2 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 III has physical dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 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).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 III versus Pentax ist DL2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-M1 III versus the ist DL2.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 III and ist DL2 is 67 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by researching a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 III and ist DL2.

As you can see, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 III using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus E-M1 III will render more detail because of its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics far more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 III provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Portrait photography camera
77
focusing manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
50
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview
low megapixels (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Street photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography features
78
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers focus by touch
weather proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Sports photography camera
81
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (60.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
38
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Travel photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography features
79
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
offers focus by touch
good megapixels (20MP)
selfie friendly display
52
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (6MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Landscape photography information
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography information
81
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no low pass filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather proof
two card slots
46
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Vlogging highlights
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging highlights
79
selfie friendly display
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
includes external mic socket
22
lighter than competition in class (565g)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low ( pixels)
lack of external mic port
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIIPentax ist DL2
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Pentax ist DL2
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2020-02-11 2006-01-27
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic IX -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 121 5
Cross focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash options Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 -
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 580 grams (1.28 lbs) 565 grams (1.25 lbs)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 65
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 639
Other
Battery life 420 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLH-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/MMC card
Storage slots Dual One
Price at launch $1,800 -