Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax K-3

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL1 & Pentax K-3. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-PL1 Gallery & Pentax K-3 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.