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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax E90

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax E90 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P2
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P5
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Introduced January 2010
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax E90 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus E-P3 versus Pentax E90, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the E90 (10MP) is fairly comparable but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and E90 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-P3 was launched 19 months after the E90 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a short view of how the E-P3 matches up against the E90 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Pentax E90

 E-P3 E90 
IntroducedAugust 2011January 2010More modern by 19 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution614k230kCrisper display (+384k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Olympus E-P3

 E90 E-P3 

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Pentax E90

 E-P3 E90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P3 comes with exterior measurements 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 E90 has proportions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P3 versus Pentax E90 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P3 vs the E90.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P3 and E90 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes merely by seeing specs. The picture underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P3 and E90.

All in all, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-P3 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-P3 will show more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images much more aggressively. The younger E-P3 provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P3
Portrait photography with Pentax E90
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
19
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Street photography features
Pentax E90 Street photography features
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers focus via touch
screen is fixed
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P3
Sports photography with Pentax E90
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect auto focus
16
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P3
Travel photography with Pentax E90
60
offers focus via touch
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
50
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (32mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography features
Pentax E90 Landscape photography features
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
missing Time Lapse function
22
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (32mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging info
Pentax E90 Vlogging info
35
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic socket
22
wide angle not good (32mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-P3 vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Pentax E90
 Olympus PEN E-P3Pentax Optio E90
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-P3 Pentax Optio E90
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-08-17 2010-01-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 32-95mm (3.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 6cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max 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) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 369g (0.81 lbs) 145g (0.32 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 51 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $100