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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90

Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Pentax K-3 front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90 Key Specs

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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Replacement is Pentax K-3 II
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Pentax K-3 versus Pentax E90, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the K-3 (24MP) and E90 (10MP) and the K-3 (APS-C) and E90 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The K-3 was released 4 years later than the E90 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the K-3 scores against the E90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax E90

 K-3 E90 
RevealedApril 2014January 2010More recent by 52 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen dimension3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Pentax K-3

 E90 K-3 

Common features in the Pentax K-3 and Pentax E90

 K-3 E90 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and size. The Pentax K-3 provides outside dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Pentax E90 has specifications of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

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

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the K-3 and the E90.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90 size comparison

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

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to see the difference in sensor measurements only by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-3 and E90.

As you can see, each of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The K-3 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Pentax K-3 will produce greater detail as a result of its extra 14MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The younger K-3 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-3 Portrait photography information
Pentax E90 Portrait photography information
79
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Street photography camera
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
above average high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
47
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-3 Sports photography details
Pentax E90 Sports photography details
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (560 CIPA)
16
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Travel photography camera
60
weather proof
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery life (560 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
50
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-3 Landscape photography advice
Pentax E90 Landscape photography advice
77
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
terrible battery life (560 CIPA)
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 Vlogging factors
Pentax E90 Vlogging factors
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic socket
does not offer selfie friendly display
22
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
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Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-3 and Pentax E90
 Pentax K-3Pentax Optio E90
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model type Pentax K-3 Pentax Optio E90
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-04-10 2010-01-25
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 24 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias 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 files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 27 3
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 32-95mm (3.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 6cm
Amount of lenses 151 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
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 format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800g (1.76 lb) 145g (0.32 lb)
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 rating 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1216 not tested
Other
Battery life 560 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 2 x AA
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Two 1
Price at launch $639 $100