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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P2
  • Successor is Olympus E-P5
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-P3 versus Pentax K-5 II, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was released 21 months earlier than the K-5 II making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-P3 scores vs the K-5 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Pentax K-5 II

 E-P3 K-5 II 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Olympus E-P3

 K-5 II E-P3 
AnnouncedJune 2013August 2011More recent by 21 months
Display resolution921k614kSharper display (+307k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-5 II

 E-P3 K-5 II 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P3 provides 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) while the Pentax K-5 II has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P3 versus Pentax K-5 II in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-P3 compared to the K-5 II.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and K-5 II is 86 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by checking out specifications. The visual underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and K-5 II.

To sum up, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-P3 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-5 II will show extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older E-P3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
74
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-5 II Street photography highlights
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
features touch focus
screen is fixed
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Pentax K-5 II
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-5 II as a Travel photography camera
60
features touch focus
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
65
weather proofing
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-5 II Landscape photography highlights
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
no Time Lapse function
79
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging advice
35
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic socket
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-5 II
 Olympus PEN E-P3Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Pentax K-5 II
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-08-17 2013-06-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Prime II
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
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 614k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 13.00 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, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 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 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 gr (0.81 pounds) 760 gr (1.68 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 82
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 14.1
DXO Low light rating 536 1235
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 980 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $0 $830