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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released November 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
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
  • Launched April 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1s was released 4 years before the K-3 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-PL1s matches up against the K-3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Pentax K-3

 E-PL1s K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 K-3 E-PL1s 
LaunchedApril 2014November 2010More recent by 41 months
Screen size3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax K-3

 E-PL1s K-3 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1s features physical dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1s against the K-3.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and K-3 is 86 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to picture the difference between sensor measurements purely by going over technical specs. The graphic below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1s and K-3.

As you can tell, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1s due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-3 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older E-PL1s is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography details
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography details
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
79
focusing manually
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography information
Pentax K-3 Street photography information
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
above average ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Sports photography highlights
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery power (290 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
bad battery (560 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Travel photography with Pentax K-3
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
60
environment proofing
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery (560 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography factors
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
two card slots
bad battery (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging details
Pentax K-3 Vlogging details
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic jack
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax K-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPentax K-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Pentax K-3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2010-11-16 2014-04-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 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
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
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
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 800 grams (1.76 lbs)
Physical 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 not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 1216
Other
Battery life 290 images 560 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 2
Cost at launch $599 $639