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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 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
  • Announced August 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P2
  • New Model is Olympus E-P5
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Renewed by Pentax K-1 II
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was announced 5 years earlier than the K-1 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-P3 grades against the K-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Pentax K-1

 E-P3 K-1 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus E-P3

 K-1 E-P3 
IntroducedFebruary 2016August 2011More modern by 54 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k614kSharper display (+423k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-1

 E-P3 K-1 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 features exterior measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 vs the K-1.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P3 and K-1 is 86 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes simply by checking out a spec sheet. The image underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and K-1.

As you can see, both of those cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-P3 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-1 will produce greater detail with its extra 24 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
85
manual focus
high resolution (36MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography advice
Pentax K-1 Street photography advice
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features touch focus
fixed screen
70
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
good high ISO (204,800)
heavier than competition (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-1 Sports photography advice
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect auto focus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high resolution (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.4 fps)
terrible battery life (760 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-1 Travel photography highlights
60
features touch focus
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
53
weather sealing
high resolution (36MP)
terrible battery life (760 per charge)
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-1
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
missing Time Lapse function
81
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high resolution (36 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
good high ISO (204,800)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery life (760 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-1 as a Vlogging camera
35
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic jack
does not have selfie friendly display
heavier than competition (1,010g)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-1
 Olympus PEN E-P3Pentax K-1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Pentax K-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-08-17 2016-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 12800 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 614 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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) Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 gr (0.81 pounds) 1010 gr (2.23 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 96
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 14.6
DXO Low light rating 536 3280
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 760 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots Single 2
Price at release $0 $1,499