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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-1 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • Previous Model is Olympus SH-2
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Renewed by Pentax K-1 II
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Here is a extensive overview of the Olympus SH-3 versus Pentax K-1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the SH-3 (1/2.3") and K-1 (Full frame) boast different sensor sizing.

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The SH-3 was manufactured around the same time to the K-1 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SH-3 matches up vs the K-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Pentax K-1

 SH-3 K-1 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus SH-3

 K-1 SH-3 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-1

 SH-3 K-1 
LaunchedFebruary 2016February 2016Same generation
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-3 has physical measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SH-3 versus Pentax K-1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the SH-3 compared to the K-1.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-3 and K-1 is 88 and 55 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing merely by looking through specs. The photograph here might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-3 and K-1.

All in all, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SH-3 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-1 will provide you with more detail due to its extra 20MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography factors
44
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
85
manual focus
fantastic sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-3
Street photography with Pentax K-1
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
includes touch to focus
lighter than average (271 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
70
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
great high ISO (204,800)
more heavy than average (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-1 Sports photography highlights
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery life (380 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (4.4 frames per second)
not so great battery power (760 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-1 as a Travel photography camera
74
good battery life (380 per charge)
lighter than average (271g)
includes touch to focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
53
environment sealing
fantastic sensor resolution (36MP)
not so great battery power (760 per charge)
more heavy than average (1,010g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography advice
55
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (380 CIPA)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
81
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic sensor resolution (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
great high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
not so great battery power (760 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging features
Pentax K-1 Vlogging features
35
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than average (271 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic port
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone support
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
more heavy than average (1,010 grams)
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-1
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Pentax K-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Pentax K-1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2016-02-08 2016-02-17
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 6400 204800
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.5fps 4.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lbs) 1010 grams (2.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 96
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.6
DXO Low light score not tested 3280
Other
Battery life 380 photos 760 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots Single 2
Cost at launch $579 $1,499