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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 II
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
  • Released April 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus E-M1 versus Pentax K-3, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was released 5 months prior to the K-3 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the E-M1 matches up against the K-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Pentax K-3

 E-M1 K-3 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-M1

 K-3 E-M1 
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K-3

 E-M1 K-3 
ReleasedOctober 2013April 2014Similar generation
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen resolution1037k1037kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 comes with outer measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 versus Pentax K-3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-M1 and the K-3.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and K-3 is 71 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing only by checking specs. The photograph below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and K-3.

All in all, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-3 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography highlights
71
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/320s)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
79
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography features
Pentax K-3 Street photography features
78
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
weather proof
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
very good high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography features
Pentax K-3 Sports photography features
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Pentax K-3
65
lighter than others in class (497g)
weather proof
boasts focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
terrible battery life (350 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
60
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery pack (560 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3
73
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
77
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
has double storage slots
terrible battery pack (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Pentax K-3
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic jack
lighter than others in class (497g)
screen is not selfie friendly
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic port
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-M1 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Pentax K-3
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Pentax K-3
Type Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2013-10-28 2014-04-10
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII 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 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Flash Auto, 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, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/320 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 497g (1.10 lbs) 800g (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 80
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 13.4
DXO Low light rating 757 1216
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 560 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Two
Launch pricing $799 $639