Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5
88 Imaging
48 Features
52 Overall
49
60 Imaging
56 Features
82 Overall
66
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs
(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
(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
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.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe 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.
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL3 & Pentax K-5. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery & Pentax K-5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax K-5
E-PL3 | K-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | September 2011 | December 2010 | More recent by 10 months | |
Display type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting display |
Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Olympus E-PL3
K-5 | E-PL3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display resolution | 921k | 460k | Crisper display (+461k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-5
E-PL3 | K-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | Very precise focusing | |||
Display sizing | 3" | 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.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.
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 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 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL3 | Pentax 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 |