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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M5 II
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
  • Released April 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-3, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 was announced 23 months prior to the K-3 making them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-M5 scores against the K-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Pentax K-3

 E-M5 K-3 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-M5

 K-3 E-M5 
ReleasedApril 2014April 2012Newer by 23 months
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k610kCrisper display (+427k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-3

 E-M5 K-3 
Manual focus More exact focus
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 has physical dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 vs the K-3.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and K-3 is 81 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions just by looking at a spec sheet. The picture below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and K-3.

As you can see, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax K-3 will resolve extra detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
79
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography features
Pentax K-3 Street photography features
82
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports focus by touch
weather proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather proof
good high ISO (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography information
Pentax K-3 Sports photography information
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
no phase detect autofocus
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Pentax K-3
66
weather proof
supports focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
60
weather proof
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
terrible battery (560 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Landscape photography camera
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
doesn't have Timelapse recording
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proof
has dual storage slots
terrible battery (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Pentax K-3
34
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone port
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Pentax K-3
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Pentax K-3
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-04-30 2014-04-10
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI 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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of screen 610k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lb) 800 grams (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 71 80
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 13.4
DXO Low light score 826 1216
Other
Battery life 360 shots 560 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Two
Price at launch $799 $639