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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax W90

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax W90 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
  • Released September 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Launched February 2010
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax W90, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the W90 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and W90 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL3 was unveiled 20 months later than the W90 making them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax W90 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL3 matches up against the W90 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax W90

 E-PL3 W90 
LaunchedSeptember 2011February 2010More recent by 20 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Olympus E-PL3

 W90 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax W90

 E-PL3 W90 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 comes with outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Pentax W90 has dimensions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 versus Pentax W90 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL3 versus the W90.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and W90 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements only by seeing technical specs. The graphic here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and W90.

As you can tell, both the cameras have the same MP but not the same sensor measurements. The E-PL3 includes the larger sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF easier. The fresher E-PL3 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
27
focusing manually
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Street photography camera
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
54
weather sealing
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Pentax W90
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
24
weather sealing
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography highlights
Pentax W90 Travel photography highlights
44
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (300 shots)
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
64
weather sealing
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
low battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
37
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
weather sealing
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging information
Pentax W90 Vlogging information
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
25
fairly wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax W90
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax Optio W90
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2011-09-20 2010-02-24
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1500s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
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 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lb) 164 gr (0.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
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 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $399 $120