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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Released August 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P5
Pentax 645Z
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1550g - 156 x 117 x 123mm
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Older Model is Pentax 645D
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Here is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Pro DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) boast different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was introduced 3 years prior to the 645Z and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-P3 grades versus the 645Z for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Pentax 645Z

 E-P3 645Z 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus E-P3

 645Z E-P3 
RevealedApril 2014August 2011Fresher by 32 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k614kCrisper display (+423k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax 645Z

 E-P3 645Z 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 provides external measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Pentax 645Z has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") and a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-P3 compared to the 645Z.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and 645Z is 86 and 49 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizing purely by checking technical specs. The graphic below will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and 645Z.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P3 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax 645Z will give more detail using its extra 39 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The older E-P3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography features
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
88
manual focus
megapixel count excellent (51 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Pentax 645Z
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch to focus
screen does not articulate
63
tilting screen
sensor size is great (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
very good high ISO (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others (1,550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography info
Pentax 645Z Sports photography info
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
lacks phase detect AF
71
megapixel count excellent (51MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery power (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
60
includes touch to focus
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
51
weather proof
megapixel count excellent (51 megapixels)
terrible battery power (650 CIPA)
more heavy than others (1,550g)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography factors
65
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inch)
megapixel count excellent (51MP)
sensor size is great (Medium format)
does not have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery power (650 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax 645Z Vlogging highlights
35
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone port
27
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others (1,550g)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus PEN E-P3Pentax 645Z
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Pentax 645Z
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Released 2011-08-17 2014-04-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 51MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 12800 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 27
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Amount of lenses 107 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3.2"
Display resolution 614k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) 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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 369 gr (0.81 pounds) 1550 gr (3.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 51 101
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 14.7
DXO Low light rating 536 4505
Other
Battery life 330 images 650 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots One 2
Cost at launch $0 $5,024