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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Replacement is Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was launched 4 years earlier than the K-3 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-PL2 matches up vs the K-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Pentax K-3

 E-PL2 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-PL2

 K-3 E-PL2 
RevealedApril 2014February 2011More recent by 38 months
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax K-3

 E-PL2 K-3 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 offers outer measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL2 compared to the K-3.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and K-3 is 85 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to see the gap in sensor measurements merely by viewing technical specs. The photograph here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and K-3.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-3 will render extra detail utilizing its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
79
manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography features
Pentax K-3 Street photography features
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proof
very good ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-3 Sports photography factors
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (280 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-3 Travel photography advice
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery pack (280 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
60
weather proof
resolution is good (24MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery power (560 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography details
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (280 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
77
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proof
has double storage slots
not so great battery power (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Pentax K-3
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax K-3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax K-3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-02-11 2014-04-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options 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
AE bracketing
WB 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362g (0.80 pounds) 800g (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 114 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 score 55 80
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 13.4
DXO Low light score 573 1216
Other
Battery life 280 pictures 560 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One Two
Retail pricing $0 $639