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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL7
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Launched April 2014
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Following is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL6 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL6 was introduced 4 months after the K-3 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL6 scores versus the K-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Pentax K-3

 E-PL6 K-3 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-PL6

 K-3 E-PL6 
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax K-3

 E-PL6 K-3 
LaunchedAugust 2014April 2014Same generation
Focus manually More exact focus

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL6 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) whilst the Pentax K-3 has sizing 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-PL6 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 are using at the time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL6 and the K-3.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL6 and K-3 is 88 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes merely by researching specifications. The pic below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL6 and K-3.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL6 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-3 will provide you with greater detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography advice
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
79
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Street photography details
Pentax K-3 Street photography details
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
good ISO range (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Sports photography information
Pentax K-3 Sports photography information
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
no phase detect AF
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect AF
not so great battery life (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
85
features touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
60
weather proof
MP count good (24MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery life (560 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography information
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
77
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
not so great battery life (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 as a Vlogging camera
79
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone jack
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Pentax K-3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL6 Pentax K-3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2014-08-01 2014-04-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325g (0.72 lb) 800g (1.76 lb)
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 rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 1216
Other
Battery life 360 images 560 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One Dual
Price at release $300 $639