Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1
88 Imaging
48 Features
52 Overall
49
84 Imaging
37 Features
60 Overall
46
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs
(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
(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
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.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe 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.
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL3 & Pentax MX-1. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL3 Gallery & Pentax MX-1 Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | July 2013 | September 2011 | Newer by 21 months | |
Display resolution | 920k | 460k | Clearer display (+460k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax MX-1
E-PL3 | MX-1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | Very precise focusing | |||
Display type | Tilting | Tilting | Tilting display | |
Display dimensions | 3" | 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.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.
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 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 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL3 | Pentax 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 |