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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 II Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Released August 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Older Model is Pentax K-1
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 II, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and K-1 II (Full frame) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was introduced 7 years prior to the K-1 II and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-P3 scores against the K-1 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-P3 K-1 II 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 K-1 II E-P3 
LaunchedFebruary 2018August 2011Fresher by 79 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k614kCrisper display (+423k dot)

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

 E-P3 K-1 II 
Focus manually More precise focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 offers exterior dimensions 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 K-1 II has proportions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 II in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P3 vs the K-1 II.

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

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and K-1 II is 86 and 55 respectively.

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

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and K-1 II.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-P3 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-1 II will offer you more detail using its extra 24MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images far more aggressively. The older E-P3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
86
manual focus
sensor resolution is excellent (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Street photography camera
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
features touch focus
no moving screen
70
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
above average ISO range (819,200)
more heavy than competitors (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Pentax K-1 II
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
lacks phase detect auto focus
77
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is excellent (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps low (4.4 frames/s)
not so great battery life (670 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Travel photography camera
60
features touch focus
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
53
environment proofing
sensor resolution is excellent (36MP)
not so great battery life (670 CIPA)
more heavy than competitors (1,010 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-1 II
65
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
no Time Lapse recording
82
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is excellent (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (819,200)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
two card slots
not so great battery life (670 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging details
Pentax K-1 II Vlogging details
35
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no mic port
32
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than competitors (1,010 grams)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-1 II
 Olympus PEN E-P3Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-08-17 2018-02-22
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 36MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 12800 819200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF4
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 614k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 4.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/200s
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369g (0.81 pounds) 1010g (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 score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 670 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots Single Two
Cost at release $0 $1,737