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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-r 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax K-r, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the K-r (12MP) is very similar but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and K-r (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was announced 7 months after the K-r which means that they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL3 matches up vs the K-r when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-PL3 K-r 
LaunchedSeptember 2011March 2011More modern by 7 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

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

 K-r E-PL3 
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

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

 E-PL3 K-r 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with external 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) while the Pentax K-r has proportions of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") and a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax K-r in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 versus the K-r.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and K-r is 88 and 67 respectively.

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

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by going over a spec sheet. The picture here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and K-r.

Clearly, the two cameras provide the same resolution but different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 has got the tinier sensor which should make achieving shallower DOF more difficult. The more recent E-PL3 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-r Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
63
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography details
Pentax K-r Street photography details
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography details
Pentax K-r Sports photography details
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max fps low (6.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
55
great max shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery life (470 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-r Travel photography highlights
44
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
47
flash built-in
terrible battery life (470 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-r Landscape photography features
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery life (470 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging info
Pentax K-r Vlogging info
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
26
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
does not contain selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K-r
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax K-r
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-09-20 2011-03-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/180 seconds
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) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313g (0.69 pounds) 598g (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 72
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 12.4
DXO Low light rating 499 755
Other
Battery life 300 shots 470 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $399 $1,100