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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
76
Features
52
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645D Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Announced September 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL2
Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Announced March 2010
  • Newer Model is Pentax 645Z
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645D Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax 645D, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Pro DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and 645D (40MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and 645D (Medium format) come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was announced 19 months after the 645D making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before delving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-PL3 grades versus the 645D when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax 645D

 E-PL3 645D 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011March 2010More modern by 19 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Olympus E-PL3

 645D E-PL3 
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax 645D

 E-PL3 645D 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 has outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645D has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") and a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax 645D in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL3 vs the 645D.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and 645D is 88 and 50 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes merely by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic here may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and 645D.

Clearly, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh trickier and the Pentax 645D will offer you greater detail with its extra 28MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The newer E-PL3 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography info
Pentax 645D Portrait photography info
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
77
has manual focus
megapixel count excellent (40 megapixels)
large sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax 645D as a Street photography camera
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
58
large sensor size (Medium format)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography information
Pentax 645D Sports photography information
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
low fps (6.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (300 per charge)
no phase detect AF
63
megapixel count excellent (40MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
weather proof
has phase detect AF
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (800 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax 645D as a Travel photography camera
44
no Time Lapse mode
terrible battery life (300 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
55
weather proof
megapixel count excellent (40MP)
not so great battery life (800 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography details
Pentax 645D Landscape photography details
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
72
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count excellent (40MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
does not have anti aliasing filter
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
2 card slots
no liveview
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (800 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax 645D Vlogging highlights
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic port
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax 645D
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax 645D
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax 645D
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Announced 2011-09-20 2010-03-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 40 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 7264 x 5440
Highest native ISO 12800 1600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Available lenses 107 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313g (0.69 pounds) 1480g (3.26 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 82
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 24.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 12.6
DXO Low light rating 499 1262
Other
Battery life 300 shots 800 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Two
Pricing at release $399 $4,000