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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
64
Features
70
Overall
66

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-S1 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
  • Renewed by Olympus E-P5
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Launched August 2014
  • New Model is Pentax K-S2
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-S1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and K-S1 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-P3 was released 4 years prior to the K-S1 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-P3 scores vs the K-S1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Pentax K-S1

 E-P3 K-S1 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Olympus E-P3

 K-S1 E-P3 
LaunchedAugust 2014August 2011Newer by 36 months
Screen resolution921k614kClearer screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-S1

 E-P3 K-S1 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P3 enjoys outside measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-S1 has measurements of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-S1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-P3 compared to the K-S1.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and K-S1 is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to see the difference in sensor dimensions purely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture underneath will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P3 and K-S1.

Clearly, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax K-S1 will render greater detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-P3 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-S1
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
78
focusing manually
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography details
Pentax K-S1 Street photography details
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch focus
no moving screen
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (558g)
above average high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography info
Pentax K-S1 Sports photography info
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect autofocus
69
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.4 fps)
not so great battery life (410 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Travel photography camera
60
offers touch focus
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
60
lighter than competition in class (558 grams)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (410 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-S1 Landscape photography information
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
not so great battery life (410 shots)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging highlights
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone support
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (558 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone socket
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Pentax K-S1
 Olympus PEN E-P3Pentax K-S1
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Pentax K-S1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-08-17 2014-08-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Prime MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12800 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 614k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 5.4 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 369g (0.81 pounds) 558g (1.23 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 78
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 13.0
DXO Low light rating 536 1061
Other
Battery life 330 shots 410 shots
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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $339