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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-1 II 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Replaced the Pentax K-1
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax K-1 II, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and K-1 II (Full frame) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL3 was announced 7 years before the K-1 II and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-PL3 grades against the K-1 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax K-1 II

 E-PL3 K-1 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Olympus E-PL3

 K-1 II E-PL3 
IntroducedFebruary 2018September 2011Fresher by 78 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-1 II

 E-PL3 K-1 II 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Pentax K-1 II has measurements of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax K-1 II in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL3 versus the K-1 II.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-1 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and K-1 II is 88 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-1 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing merely by checking specifications. The photograph below should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and K-1 II.

Plainly, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL3 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-1 II will give more detail with its extra 24MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The older E-PL3 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-1 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-1 II
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
86
has manual focus
MP count high (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography info
Pentax K-1 II Street photography info
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
70
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
above average ISO range (819,200)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography features
Pentax K-1 II Sports photography features
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (300 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
77
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count high (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (4.4 frames/s)
low battery life (670 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography features
Pentax K-1 II Travel photography features
44
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
53
weather proof
MP count high (36 megapixels)
low battery life (670 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
82
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count high (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (819,200)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
two card slots
low battery life (670 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-1 II Vlogging highlights
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
32
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition in class (1,010g)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-1 II
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-09-20 2018-02-22
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 7360 x 4912
Highest native ISO 12800 819200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF4
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 4.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/200 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, 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
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lb) 1010 gr (2.23 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 670 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots Single 2
Retail pricing $399 $1,737