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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-3 II 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
  • Released February 2016
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SH-2
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
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-3
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-3 II, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the SH-3 (1/2.3") and K-3 II (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The SH-3 was revealed 10 months after the K-3 II so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the SH-3 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 SH-3 over the Pentax K-3 II

 SH-3 K-3 II 
RevealedFebruary 2016April 2015More modern by 10 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 K-3 II SH-3 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)

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

 SH-3 K-3 II 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-3 has got outside measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 II has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-3 II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view size comparison of the SH-3 versus the K-3 II.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-3 and K-3 II is 88 and 59 respectively.

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

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by researching specs. The picture here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-3 and K-3 II.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The SH-3 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-3 II will result in greater detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The fresher SH-3 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography information
44
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
no manual focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
79
focusing manually
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Street photography camera
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
provides focus via touch
lighter than average (271g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
good ISO range (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography advice
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery pack (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography factors
74
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
lighter than average (271g)
provides focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
56
environment sealing
MP count decent (24MP)
bad battery pack (720 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 II
55
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (380 shots)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
78
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
bad battery pack (720 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Vlogging camera
35
rather wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than average (271 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone jack
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone jack
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-3 II
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-3 Pentax K-3 II
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2016-02-08 2015-04-23
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Prime III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 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 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 11.5 frames per sec 8.3 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) no built-in flash
Flash settings 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 (available with dedicated external flash)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271g (0.60 pounds) 800g (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 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 380 photos 720 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 Two
Pricing at release $579 $829