Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-3
86 Imaging
53 Features
81 Overall
64


59 Imaging
65 Features
85 Overall
73
Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
- Revealed September 2014
- Previous Model is Olympus E-PL6
- Renewed by Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3.2" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 51200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
- Announced April 2014
- Newer Model is Pentax K-3 II

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-3 Overview
The following is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax K-3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL7 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor size.

The E-PL7 was announced 5 months after the K-3 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL7 scores versus the K-3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-3 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL7 & Pentax K-3. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PL7 Gallery & Pentax K-3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Pentax K-3
E-PL7 | K-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-PL7
K-3 | E-PL7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display size | 3.2" | ![]() | 3" | Larger display (+0.2") |
Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax K-3
E-PL7 | K-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | September 2014 | ![]() | April 2014 | Same age |
Manually focus | ![]() | More accurate focus | ||
Display resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 1037k | Identical display resolution |
Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison
If you're aiming to travel with your camera, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL7 features outer measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).
See the Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax K-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL7 against the K-3.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL7 and K-3 is 86 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by checking out a spec sheet. The picture below might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL7 and K-3.
As you can see, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL7 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-3 will produce greater detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images way more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL7 | Pentax K-3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Olympus | Pentax |
Model | Olympus PEN E-PL7 | Pentax K-3 |
Type | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Advanced DSLR |
Revealed | 2014-09-01 | 2014-04-10 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | TruePic VII | 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 aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 6016 x 4000 |
Maximum native ISO | 25600 | 51200 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Number of focus points | 81 | 27 |
Cross focus points | - | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax KAF2 |
Available lenses | 107 | 151 |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Screen size | 3 inch | 3.2 inch |
Screen resolution | 1,037 thousand dots | 1,037 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Screen 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 rate | 8.0fps | 8.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | no built-in flash | 13.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash settings | no built-in flash | Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | - | 1/180 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | H.264, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) |
GPS | None | Optional |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 357 grams (0.79 lbs) | 800 grams (1.76 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" 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 | 22.7 | 23.7 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 12.4 | 13.4 |
DXO Low light score | 873 | 1216 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 350 shots | 560 shots |
Battery type | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | BLS-50 | D-LI90 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC card | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | One | Dual |
Cost at release | $499 | $639 |