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Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Released January 2016
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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Replacement is Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the PEN-F (20MP) and the K-3 (24MP) is fairly well matched but the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The PEN-F was launched 22 months after the K-3 making them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick overview of how the PEN-F grades vs the K-3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Pentax K-3

 PEN-F K-3 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016April 2014More modern by 22 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus PEN-F

 K-3 PEN-F 
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Pentax K-3

 PEN-F K-3 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display resolution1037k1037kSame display resolution

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus PEN-F provides outside dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the PEN-F and the K-3.

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and K-3 is 84 and 59 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading through technical specs. The picture below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the PEN-F and K-3.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The PEN-F due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-3 will resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer PEN-F is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus PEN-F
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3
75
has manual focus
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
79
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
84
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
very good high ISO (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Sports photography camera
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
not so great battery (330 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery power (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography features
Pentax K-3 Travel photography features
75
supports touch to focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery (330 shots)
60
environment proof
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery power (560 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus PEN-F
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3
76
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
not so great battery (330 shots)
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
has double storage slots
not so great battery power (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus PEN-F
Vlogging with Pentax K-3
78
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone port
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Pentax K-3
 Olympus PEN-FPentax K-3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN-F Pentax K-3
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2016-01-27 2014-04-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 20MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lb) 800 grams (1.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 80
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 13.4
DXO Low light rating 894 1216
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 560 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 2
Launch cost $1,000 $639