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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL9
Pentax K-3 II
(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
  • Released April 2015
  • Replaced the Pentax K-3
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-3 II, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was released 18 months after the K-3 II making them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL8 matches up vs the K-3 II with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Pentax K-3 II

 E-PL8 K-3 II 
ReleasedSeptember 2016April 2015Newer by 18 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Olympus E-PL8

 K-3 II E-PL8 
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-3 II

 E-PL8 K-3 II 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display resolution1037k1037kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 provides external measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 II 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).

Look at the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-3 II in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL8 vs the K-3 II.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and K-3 II is 86 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading through a spec sheet. The image here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL8 and K-3 II.

Clearly, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-3 II will give more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The younger E-PL8 provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 II
72
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW files
79
focusing manually
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Street photography camera
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
supports touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
above average ISO range (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL8
Sports photography with Pentax K-3 II
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (720 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography info
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography info
71
supports touch focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
56
environment proof
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
bad battery life (720 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography advice
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
78
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
two card slots
bad battery life (720 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging factors
35
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone socket
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic socket
does not posses selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax K-3 II
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Pentax K-3 II
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2016-09-19 2015-04-23
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 dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor 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
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 8.3 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
Hot shoe
AEB
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357g (0.79 lbs) 800g (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 rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1106
Other
Battery life 350 shots 720 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Dual
Launch cost $500 $829