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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced May 2010
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL1s
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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Renewed by Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the K-3 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PL1 scores versus the K-3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax K-3

 E-PL1 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-PL1

 K-3 E-PL1 
IntroducedApril 2014May 2010More modern by 47 months
Screen sizing3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K-3

 E-PL1 K-3 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 features external measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the K-3.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and K-3 is 86 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes just by seeing technical specs. The picture below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and K-3.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-3 will show more detail having an extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography factors
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
79
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography advice
Pentax K-3 Street photography advice
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
very good ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Sports photography camera
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery power (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-3 Travel photography advice
51
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
environment sealing
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery power (560 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
has double storage slots
terrible battery power (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 Vlogging factors
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone socket
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic port
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax K-3
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax K-3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2010-05-17 2014-04-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V 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 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) 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
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 800 grams (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 13.4
DXO Low light rating 487 1216
Other
Battery life 290 images 560 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One Two
Launch cost $288 $639