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Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax E90

Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 II front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax E90 Key Specs

Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-3
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax E90 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Pentax K-3 II versus Pentax E90, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the K-3 II (24MP) and E90 (10MP) and the K-3 II (APS-C) and E90 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizes.

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The K-3 II was launched 5 years after the E90 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the K-3 II grades against the E90 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Pentax E90

 K-3 II E90 
LaunchedApril 2015January 2010More modern by 64 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display size3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Pentax K-3 II

 E90 K-3 II 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 II and Pentax E90

 K-3 II E90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-3 II has external measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Pentax E90 has dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") along with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-3 II versus Pentax E90 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the K-3 II against the E90.

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the K-3 II and E90 is 59 and 94 respectively.

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over a spec sheet. The image below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the K-3 II and E90.

Clearly, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The K-3 II due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax K-3 II will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 14MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The younger K-3 II provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography info
Pentax E90 Portrait photography info
79
manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
19
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Pentax K-3 II
Street photography with Pentax E90
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
above average high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Sports photography info
Pentax E90 Sports photography info
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low battery life (720 shots)
16
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-3 II
Travel photography with Pentax E90
56
environment proof
megapixel count good (24MP)
low battery life (720 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
50
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (32mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography advice
Pentax E90 Landscape photography advice
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
two card slots
low battery life (720 per charge)
22
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (32mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 II Vlogging features
Pentax E90 Vlogging features
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
does not offer selfie friendly display
22
wide angle not great (32mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
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Pentax K-3 II vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 II and Pentax E90
 Pentax K-3 IIPentax Optio E90
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-3 II Pentax Optio E90
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2015-04-23 2010-01-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Prime III Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6016 x 4000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 51200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 27 3
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 32-95mm (3.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 6cm
Available lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.3 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash options 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
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 pounds) 145 gr (0.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 1106 not tested
Other
Battery life 720 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI90 2 x AA
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 2 One
Pricing at launch $829 $100