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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Announced January 2006
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

The following is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and ist DL2 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured 5 years after the ist DL2 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-PL3 grades against the ist DL2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax ist DL2

 E-PL3 ist DL2 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011January 2006Newer by 69 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k210kClearer screen (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus E-PL3

 ist DL2 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax ist DL2

 E-PL3 ist DL2 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL3 enjoys physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Pentax ist DL2 has dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the ist DL2.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and ist DL2 is 88 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions only by checking out specifications. The image below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL3 and ist DL2.

Plainly, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL3 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Olympus E-PL3 will show extra detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The younger E-PL3 will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
50
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography features
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (565g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography advice
Pentax ist DL2 Sports photography advice
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
38
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography factors
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography factors
44
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery (300 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
52
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography information
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography information
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
46
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging information
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging information
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
22
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video ( pxls)
missing external mic jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax ist DL2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-09-20 2006-01-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 5
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 210k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lb) 565 grams (1.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 65
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 11.1
DXO Low light rating 499 639
Other
Battery life 300 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Launch price $399 -