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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-30 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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P5
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • Renewed by Pentax K-50
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus E-P3 versus Pentax K-30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The E-P3 was introduced 14 months earlier than the K-30 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-P3 matches up against the K-30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Pentax K-30

 E-P3 K-30 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-P3

 K-30 E-P3 
AnnouncedOctober 2012August 2011More recent by 14 months
Display resolution921k614kSharper display (+307k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-30

 E-P3 K-30 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-P3 enjoys exterior dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P3 versus Pentax K-30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-P3 and the K-30.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and K-30 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to picture the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading specifications. The photograph here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and K-30.

Plainly, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P3 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-30 will offer you more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older E-P3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography info
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography information
Pentax K-30 Street photography information
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus by touch
fixed screen
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography features
Pentax K-30 Sports photography features
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect autofocus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Travel photography camera
60
offers focus by touch
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
60
weather proof
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
low battery (410 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography features
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
low battery (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging information
Pentax K-30 Vlogging information
35
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus PEN E-P3Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Pentax K-30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-08-17 2012-10-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 614 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 gr (0.81 pounds) 650 gr (1.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 51 79
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 13.0
DXO Low light rating 536 1129
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 410 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 $525