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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P70

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P70 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced March 2009
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P70 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax P70, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the P70 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and P70 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was announced 2 years after the P70 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-PL3 grades versus the P70 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax P70

 E-PL3 P70 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011March 2009More modern by 32 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Olympus E-PL3

 P70 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax P70

 E-PL3 P70 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 has got outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Pentax P70 has proportions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax P70 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL3 against the P70.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and P70 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at specifications. The pic below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL3 and P70.

Plainly, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 includes the larger sensor which should make getting shallow DOF easier. The younger E-PL3 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
27
has manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography advice
Pentax P70 Street photography advice
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than average in class (155g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Pentax P70
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (300 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography details
Pentax P70 Travel photography details
44
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery power (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
56
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (155 grams)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax P70 Landscape photography highlights
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
32
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging factors
Pentax P70 Vlogging factors
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic support
25
fairly wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
heavier than average in class (155 grams)
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax P70
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax Optio P70
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Announced 2011-09-20 2009-03-02
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 64
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus range - 10cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data 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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lbs) 155 grams (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $399 $200