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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL2
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed December 2010
  • Replaced the Pentax K-7
  • Replacement is Pentax K-5 IIs
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was brought out 10 months later than the K-5 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-PL3 grades against the K-5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax K-5

 E-PL3 K-5 
RevealedSeptember 2011December 2010More recent by 10 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Olympus E-PL3

 K-5 E-PL3 
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-5

 E-PL3 K-5 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 provides outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the K-5.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and K-5 is 88 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements just by going through specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and K-5.

All in all, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-5 will produce more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The newer E-PL3 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
73
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Pentax K-5
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
low battery power (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Travel photography camera
44
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery power (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
65
weather sealing
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography information
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
low battery power (300 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
78
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging info
Pentax K-5 Vlogging info
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone port
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic support
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-5
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax K-5
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax K-5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-09-20 2010-12-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
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 - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 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, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG 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 Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lb) 740 grams (1.63 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 82
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 14.1
DXO Low light score 499 1162
Other
Battery life 300 images 980 images
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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $399 $800