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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax Q7 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
54
Overall
43

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Launched September 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL2
Pentax Q7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Released August 2013
  • Replaced the Pentax Q10
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL3 (12MP) and the Q7 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and Q7 (1/1.7") come with totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was brought out 22 months prior to the Q7 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PL3 grades vs the Q7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax Q7

 E-PL3 Q7 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Pentax Q7 over the Olympus E-PL3

 Q7 E-PL3 
ReleasedAugust 2013September 2011More modern by 22 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax Q7

 E-PL3 Q7 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL3 features exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q7 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL3 versus the Q7.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL3 and Q7 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes simply by seeing specifications. The pic underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and Q7.

Plainly, the two cameras enjoy the same exact megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL3 contains the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF simpler. The more aged E-PL3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL3
Portrait photography with Pentax Q7
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
48
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q7 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (200g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography info
Pentax Q7 Sports photography info
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides tracking focus
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
not so great battery power (250 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography factors
Pentax Q7 Travel photography factors
44
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery (300 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
60
lighter than competitors in class (200g)
has built in flash
not so great battery power (250 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography features
Pentax Q7 Landscape photography features
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
not so great battery power (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging factors
Pentax Q7 Vlogging factors
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone support
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (200 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax Q7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax Q7
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax Q7
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax Q7
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-09-20 2013-08-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Total lenses 107 8
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.90 m (ISO100/m)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) FullHD(1920x1080, 30fps/25fps/24fps), HD(1280x720,16:9,30fps/25fps/24fps), VGA(640x480,4:3,30fps/25fps/24fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lb) 200 grams (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 250 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 sec, 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, SDXC and Eye-Fi Card
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $399 $480