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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Released September 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-S1
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the K-S2 which is quite a big gap as far as tech 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-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-PL3 grades against the K-S2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax K-S2

 E-PL3 K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus E-PL3

 K-S2 E-PL3 
RevealedFebruary 2015September 2011Newer by 41 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-S2

 E-PL3 K-S2 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 features exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-S2 has measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") with a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the K-S2.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and K-S2 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at specs. The picture here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and K-S2.

All in all, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-S2 will give you more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged E-PL3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography advice
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
78
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography info
Pentax K-S2 Street photography info
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
72
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
very good high ISO (51,200)
more heavy than competition in class (678 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
70
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames/s)
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography advice
44
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (300 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
terrible battery pack (410 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (678 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography information
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
77
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
terrible battery pack (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging information
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging information
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic port
71
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (678 grams)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax K-S2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax K-S2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2011-09-20 2015-02-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 12800 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 5.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 grams (0.69 lb) 678 grams (1.49 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 410 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $399 $581