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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2 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
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL2
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Announced August 2005
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL3 was manufactured 6 years after the ist DS2 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-PL3 matches up against the ist DS2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Pentax ist DS2

 E-PL3 ist DS2 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011August 2005More modern by 74 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kCrisper display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Olympus E-PL3

 ist DS2 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax ist DS2

 E-PL3 ist DS2 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 offers external measurements 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 ist DS2 has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2 in the all new Camera with 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 use at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the ist DS2.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL3 and ist DS2 is 88 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes just by checking a spec sheet. The picture underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL3 and ist DS2.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL3 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Olympus E-PL3 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The newer E-PL3 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography features
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
50
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography factors
Pentax ist DS2 Street photography factors
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
60
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others in class (605g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL3
Sports photography with Pentax ist DS2
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
38
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography info
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography info
44
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
52
lighter than others in class (605g)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
low megapixels (6MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
Landscape photography with Pentax ist DS2
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
46
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging info
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging info
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
22
lighter than others in class (605g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video ( resolution)
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Pentax ist DS2
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL3 Pentax ist DS2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2011-09-20 2005-08-22
Physical type 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
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type 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" 2.5"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 313 gr (0.69 lb) 605 gr (1.33 lb)
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 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $399 -