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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL2
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax MX-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL3 was released 21 months before the MX-1 making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-PL3 scores against the MX-1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax MX-1

 E-PL3 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-PL3

 MX-1 E-PL3 
LaunchedJuly 2013September 2011Newer by 21 months
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax MX-1

 E-PL3 MX-1 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 features external 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) while the Pentax MX-1 has proportions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") and a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-PL3 vs the MX-1.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and MX-1 is 88 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through technical specs. The pic here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and MX-1.

As you can tell, both the cameras provide the same megapixel count but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 uses the larger sensor which will make getting shallower DOF simpler. The more aged E-PL3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography factors
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
42
has manual focus
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
Street photography with Pentax MX-1
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
65
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
small sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
good battery (290 per charge)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
44
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
61
good battery (290 CIPA)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (391 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography factors
61
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
55
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
good battery (290 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging advice
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
33
quite wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than competition (391g)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax MX-1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-09-20 2013-07-01
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313g (0.69 pounds) 391g (0.86 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 49
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 11.3
DXO Low light rating 499 208
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 290 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $399 $400