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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50 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
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Updated by Olympus E-P5
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-30
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The E-P3 was released 3 years before the K-50 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-P3 matches up vs the K-50 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Pentax K-50

 E-P3 K-50 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus E-P3

 K-50 E-P3 
RevealedNovember 2013August 2011Newer by 27 months
Display resolution921k614kCrisper display (+307k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-50

 E-P3 K-50 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera often, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P3 enjoys physical dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-50 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-P3 against the K-50.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and K-50 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by checking technical specs. The image below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and K-50.

As you can tell, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-50 will give more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography info
Pentax K-50 Street photography info
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
screen is fixed
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
above average ISO range (51,600)
screen is fixed
more heavy than average in class (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography details
Pentax K-50 Sports photography details
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
no phase detect autofocus
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Travel photography camera
60
offers focus by touch
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
56
environment proofing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery (410 shots)
more heavy than average in class (650g)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-50
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have Timelapse function
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
bad battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-50 as a Vlogging camera
35
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
28
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (650 grams)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus PEN E-P3Pentax K-50
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Pentax K-50
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2011-08-17 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI PRIME M
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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 614k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech 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 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in 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 synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 gr (0.81 lbs) 650 gr (1.43 lbs)
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 1120
Other
Battery life 330 images 410 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $0 $610