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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax KP

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Pentax KP front
Portability
61
Imaging
68
Features
76
Overall
71

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax KP 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
  • Announced August 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P2
  • Updated by Olympus E-P5
Pentax KP
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 101 x 76mm
  • Launched January 2017
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax KP Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax KP, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-P3 (12MP) and KP (24MP) and the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and KP (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The E-P3 was manufactured 6 years before the KP and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax KP being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-P3 matches up against the KP when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Pentax KP

 E-P3 KP 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Olympus E-P3

 KP E-P3 
LaunchedJanuary 2017August 2011More recent by 66 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k614kCrisper display (+307k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax KP

 E-P3 KP 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax KP Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P3 provides outer 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 KP has dimensions of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") along with a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax KP in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-P3 versus the KP.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax KP size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and KP is 86 and 61 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax KP top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax KP Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements merely by checking out technical specs. The photograph below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and KP.

As you can tell, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P3 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax KP will show extra detail due to its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The older E-P3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax KP sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax KP Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax KP Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
80
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Pentax KP
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
fixed screen
76
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
good high ISO (819,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography information
Pentax KP Sports photography information
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect auto focus
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/24,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
bad battery life (390 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Travel photography factors
Pentax KP Travel photography factors
60
comes with touch focus
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low MP (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
62
environment proofing
MP count good (24MP)
flash built-in
bad battery life (390 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax KP as a Landscape photography camera
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (819,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
bad battery life (390 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging information
Pentax KP Vlogging information
35
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone support
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic jack
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax KP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Pentax KP
 Olympus PEN E-P3Pentax KP
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Pentax KP
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-08-17 2017-01-26
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 819200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 614k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/24000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs -
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 (60i, 30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369g (0.81 lb) 703g (1.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 132 x 101 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 390 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $0 $747