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Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Released October 2013
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P3
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Replacement is Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-P5 versus Pentax K-3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the E-P5 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-P5 was announced 6 months before the K-3 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-P5 scores against the K-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Pentax K-3

 E-P5 K-3 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-P5

 K-3 E-P5 
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Pentax K-3

 E-P5 K-3 
LaunchedOctober 2013April 2014Same generation
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen resolution1037k1037kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P5 has got outside dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P5 versus Pentax K-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-P5 against the K-3.

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P5 and K-3 is 85 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to see the difference in sensor sizes just by seeing specs. The pic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P5 and K-3.

All in all, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-P5 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-3 will provide more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/320 seconds)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
79
focusing manually
decent MP (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Street photography highlights
78
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers touch focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
more heavy than others (420 grams)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Sports photography features
Pentax K-3 Sports photography features
68
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Travel photography highlights
68
offers touch focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
more heavy than others (420g)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
environment proof
decent MP (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery life (560 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography factors
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
78
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
has double storage slots
terrible battery life (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 Vlogging factors
33
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone socket
more heavy than others (420 grams)
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic port
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-P5 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus PEN E-P5Pentax K-3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P5 Pentax K-3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2013-10-03 2014-04-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 9.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64) Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/320 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 420 gr (0.93 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 80
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 13.4
DXO Low light rating 895 1216
Other
Battery life 330 photos 560 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Dual
Launch cost $389 $639