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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • New Model is Olympus E-P2
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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Later Model is Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-P1 versus Pentax K-3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-P1 was released 5 years prior to the K-3 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-P1 grades vs the K-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax K-3

 E-P1 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-P1

 K-3 E-P1 
AnnouncedApril 2014July 2009More recent by 57 months
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-3

 E-P1 K-3 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P1 has got outside measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P1 versus Pentax K-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-P1 and the K-3.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and K-3 is 86 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing a spec sheet. The visual below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and K-3.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-P1 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-3 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively. The older E-P1 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography information
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
79
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography info
Pentax K-3 Street photography info
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P1
Sports photography with Pentax K-3
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (560 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-3 Travel photography advice
43
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (300 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
60
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
terrible battery power (560 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Landscape photography camera
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
77
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery power (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-3 Vlogging advice
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic jack
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax K-3
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax K-3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2009-07-29 2014-04-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
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 surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, 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
Highest flash sync 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 grams (0.78 lbs) 800 grams (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 80
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 13.4
DXO Low light score 536 1216
Other
Battery life 300 photos 560 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Dual
Cost at launch $182 $639