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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • Updated by Olympus E-P5
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-5 IIs, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was revealed 21 months earlier than the K-5 IIs which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-P3 grades vs the K-5 IIs with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 E-P3 K-5 IIs 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 K-5 IIs E-P3 
RevealedJune 2013August 2011Newer by 21 months
Screen resolution921k614kCrisper screen (+307k dot)

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

 E-P3 K-5 IIs 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

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

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 provides external dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-5 IIs in the new Camera and 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 during that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P3 vs the K-5 IIs.

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

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and K-5 IIs is 86 and 60 respectively.

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

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

More often than not, it can be hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading specs. The image here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and K-5 IIs.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-5 IIs will offer greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography details
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

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

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography details
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect AF
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
60
boasts touch focus
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
79
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
Vlogging with Pentax K-5 IIs
35
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone socket
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus PEN E-P3Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-08-17 2013-06-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 614k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech 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 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369 grams (0.81 lbs) 760 grams (1.68 lbs)
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 score 51 82
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 14.1
DXO Low light score 536 1208
Other
Battery life 330 shots 980 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $0 $749