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Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Announced January 2016
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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-3
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Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus PEN-F versus Pentax K-3 II, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the PEN-F (20MP) and the K-3 II (24MP) is very close but the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The PEN-F was unveiled 10 months after the K-3 II which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the PEN-F matches up vs the K-3 II in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 PEN-F K-3 II 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016April 2015More modern by 10 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 K-3 II PEN-F 
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

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

 PEN-F K-3 II 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display resolution1037k1037kExact same display resolution

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus PEN-F has got outer 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 II has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check out the Olympus PEN-F versus Pentax K-3 II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the PEN-F and the K-3 II.

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

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and K-3 II is 84 and 59 respectively.

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

Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through technical specs. The picture below should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the PEN-F and K-3 II.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The PEN-F using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-3 II will provide you with more detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The newer PEN-F provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography info
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography info
75
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
79
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography info
Pentax K-3 II Street photography info
84
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography info
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography info
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
low battery power (330 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery power (720 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Travel photography camera
75
includes touch to focus
MP count good (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
low battery power (330 CIPA)
56
environment sealing
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
low battery power (720 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography factors
76
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
low battery power (330 per charge)
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
low battery power (720 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging advice
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging advice
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
missing external mic port
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Olympus PEN-F vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Pentax K-3 II
 Olympus PEN-FPentax K-3 II
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN-F Pentax K-3 II
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2016-01-27 2015-04-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip 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 20MP 24MP
Anti aliasing 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
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 81 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 8.3 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) 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)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lbs) 800 grams (1.76 lbs)
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 score 74 80
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 13.6
DXO Low light score 894 1106
Other
Battery life 330 photos 720 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 Dual
Retail pricing $1,000 $829