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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K10D

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax K10D front
Portability
59
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K10D 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
  • Announced September 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
Pentax K10D
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 793g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Announced December 2006
  • Newer Model is Pentax K20D
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K10D Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax K10D, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the K10D (10MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and K10D (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured 4 years later than the K10D and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K10D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-PL3 grades against the K10D in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax K10D

 E-PL3 K10D 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011December 2006More recent by 58 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kClearer display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K10D over the Olympus E-PL3

 K10D E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K10D

 E-PL3 K10D 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K10D Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Pentax K10D has proportions of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 793 grams (1.75 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax K10D in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL3 against the K10D.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K10D size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and K10D is 88 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K10D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K10D Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements only by checking specifications. The photograph underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and K10D.

Plainly, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Olympus E-PL3 will give more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The younger E-PL3 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K10D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K10D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K10D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Pentax K10D
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
52
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography highlights
Pentax K10D Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography details
Pentax K10D Sports photography details
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Pentax K10D
44
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
49
environment sealing
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K10D as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K10D as a Vlogging camera
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone socket
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K10D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K10D
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax K10D
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax K10D
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-09-20 2006-12-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Auto Red Eye
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lb) 793 grams (1.75 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 66
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 11.6
DXO Low light rating 499 522
Other
Battery life 300 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $399 $700