Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90
59 Imaging
65 Features
85 Overall
73


94 Imaging
33 Features
11 Overall
24
Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90 Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Pentax K-3 & Pentax Optio E90. The complete galleries are provided at Pentax K-3 Gallery & Pentax E90 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Pentax E90
K-3 | E90 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | April 2014 | ![]() | January 2010 | More recent by 52 months |
Manual focus | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Screen dimension | 3.2" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Screen resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper 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 type | Fixed | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-3 vs Pentax E90 Specifications
Pentax K-3 | Pentax 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 |