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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
81
Features
74
Overall
78

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645Z 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
  • Released September 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Pentax 645Z
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1550g - 156 x 117 x 123mm
  • Announced April 2014
  • Succeeded the Pentax 645D
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645Z, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Pro DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL3 was revealed 3 years before the 645Z which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-PL3 matches up against the 645Z with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 E-PL3 645Z 

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

 645Z E-PL3 
AnnouncedApril 2014September 2011Newer by 31 months
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)

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

 E-PL3 645Z 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645Z has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") having a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645Z in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL3 versus the 645Z.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and 645Z is 88 and 49 respectively.

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

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions just by looking through specifications. The image here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and 645Z.

Plainly, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax 645Z will result in greater detail because of its extra 39 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
88
focusing manually
resolution is excellent (51MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography info
Pentax 645Z Street photography info
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
63
tilting screen
sensor size is big (Medium format)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
above average high ISO (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography information
Pentax 645Z Sports photography information
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max fps low (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
71
resolution is excellent (51 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography advice
Pentax 645Z Travel photography advice
44
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
51
weather proof
resolution is excellent (51 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (650 per charge)
more heavy than competition in class (1,550 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography information
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography information
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
resolution is excellent (51MP)
sensor size is big (Medium format)
no anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (204,800)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (650 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax 645Z as a Vlogging camera
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone support
27
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone socket
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (1,550 grams)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax 645Z
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax 645Z
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Released 2011-09-20 2014-04-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 51 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 12800 204800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 27
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Number of lenses 107 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash On, Flash On+Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync+Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, contrast-control-sync, high-speed sync, wireless sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lbs) 1550 gr (3.42 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 101
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 14.7
DXO Low light rating 499 4505
Other
Battery life 300 shots 650 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots 1 2
Pricing at release $399 $5,024