Clicky

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2012
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Released April 2014
  • Later Model is Pentax K-3 II
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The E-PL5 was manufactured 19 months earlier than the K-3 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-PL5 matches up against the K-3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Pentax K-3

 E-PL5 K-3 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-PL5

 K-3 E-PL5 
ReleasedApril 2014September 2012More recent by 19 months
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-3

 E-PL5 K-3 
Manually focus Very exact focusing

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 features external dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3 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 based on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL5 vs the K-3.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and K-3 is 88 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements only by seeing specifications. The photograph here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and K-3.

Plainly, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-3 will show more detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics much more aggressively. The older E-PL5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography features
71
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
79
manual focus
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography features
Pentax K-3 Street photography features
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
good high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-3 Sports photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect AF
terrible battery life (560 shots)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
Travel photography with Pentax K-3
75
boasts touch focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse function
60
environment proofing
decent MP (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery life (560 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
missing Time Lapse function
77
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery life (560 CIPA)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 as a Vlogging camera
78
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
missing mic support
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax K-3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax K-3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-09-17 2014-04-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 lbs) 800g (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 80
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 13.4
DXO Low light score 889 1216
Other
Battery life 360 images 560 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Two
Launch cost $400 $639