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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Launched September 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-5 IIs, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was announced 20 months earlier than the K-5 IIs which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-PL3 matches up against the K-5 IIs with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-PL3 K-5 IIs 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

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

 K-5 IIs E-PL3 
AnnouncedJune 2013September 2011More modern by 20 months
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

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

 E-PL3 K-5 IIs 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with outer 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 K-5 IIs has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-5 IIs in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the K-5 IIs.

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

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and K-5 IIs is 88 and 60 respectively.

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

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes merely by going through specifications. The image here may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and K-5 IIs.

Plainly, the 2 cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-5 IIs will produce extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography info
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography information
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography information
44
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
65
weather proofing
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging features
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic jack
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-09-20 2013-06-04
Body design 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 surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options 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
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lb) 760 gr (1.68 lb)
Physical 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 Overall rating 52 82
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 14.1
DXO Low light rating 499 1208
Other
Battery life 300 photos 980 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $399 $749