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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K20D

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax K20D front
Portability
59
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K20D 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
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL2
Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Introduced June 2008
  • Superseded the Pentax K10D
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K20D Overview

Below is a comprehensive review of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax K20D, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the K20D (15MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and K20D (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was introduced 3 years later than the K20D and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-PL3 grades against the K20D when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax K20D

 E-PL3 K20D 
IntroducedSeptember 2011June 2008More recent by 40 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Olympus E-PL3

 K20D E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K20D

 E-PL3 K20D 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K20D Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL3 features exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Pentax K20D has sizing of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax K20D in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the K20D.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K20D size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and K20D is 88 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K20D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K20D Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and K20D.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K20D will provide extra detail using its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The younger E-PL3 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K20D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K20D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K20D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography features
Pentax K20D Street photography features
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proof
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography information
Pentax K20D Sports photography information
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow fps (6.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Travel photography camera
44
no Timelapse mode
bad battery life (300 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
64
weather proof
megapixel count good (15MP)
built-in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography info
Pentax K20D Landscape photography info
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery life (300 shots)
no Timelapse mode
70
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proof
small screen (2.7 inches)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Pentax K20D
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone port
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax K20D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax K20D
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax K20D
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax K20D
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-09-20 2008-06-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4672 x 3104
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest 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
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lb) 800 gr (1.76 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 score 52 65
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 11.1
DXO Low light score 499 639
Other
Battery life 300 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $399 $700