Olympus E-330 vs Pentax K-3
The Olympus Evolt E-330 and the Pentax K-3 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in January 2006 and October 2013. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on a Four Thirds (E-330) and an APS-C (K-3) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 7.4 megapixels, whereas the Pentax provides 24.1 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus Evolt E-330 and the Pentax K-3? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-330 and the Pentax K-3. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The K-3 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the E-330 is only available in black.
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax K-3 is notably larger (8 percent) than the Olympus E-330. Moreover, the K-3 is markedly heavier (26 percent) than the E-330. It is noteworthy in this context that the K-3 is splash and dust-proof, while the E-330 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.
Concerning battery life, the E-330 gets 750 shots out of its Olympus BLM-1 battery, while the K-3 can take 560 images on a single charge of its Pentax D-LI90 power pack.
The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-330 | 140 mm | 87 mm | 72 mm | 637 g | 750 | n | Jan 2006 | 999 | ebay.com | |
2. | Pentax K-3 | 131 mm | 100 mm | 77 mm | 800 g | 560 | Y | Oct 2013 | 1,299 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon XT | 127 mm | 94 mm | 64 mm | 540 g | 400 | n | Feb 2005 | 899 | ebay.com | |
4. | Leica Digilux 3 | 146 mm | 87 mm | 77 mm | 606 g | 750 | n | Sep 2006 | 1,499 | ebay.com | |
5. | Nikon D80 | 132 mm | 103 mm | 77 mm | 668 g | 600 | n | Aug 2006 | 999 | ebay.com | |
6. | Nikon D7100 | 136 mm | 107 mm | 76 mm | 765 g | 950 | Y | Feb 2013 | 1,199 | ebay.com | |
7. | Olympus E-300 | 147 mm | 85 mm | 64 mm | 624 g | 750 | n | Sep 2004 | 799 | ebay.com | |
8. | Olympus E-400 | 130 mm | 91 mm | 53 mm | 435 g | 500 | n | Sep 2006 | 699 | ebay.com | |
9. | Olympus E-410 | 130 mm | 91 mm | 53 mm | 435 g | 500 | n | Mar 2007 | 699 | ebay.com | |
10. | Olympus E-500 | 130 mm | 95 mm | 66 mm | 479 g | 750 | n | Sep 2005 | 599 | ebay.com | |
11. | Olympus E-510 | 136 mm | 92 mm | 68 mm | 538 g | 750 | n | Mar 2007 | 799 | ebay.com | |
12. | Panasonic L1 | 146 mm | 87 mm | 64 mm | 606 g | 750 | n | Feb 2006 | 999 | ebay.com | |
13. | Panasonic L10 | 135 mm | 96 mm | 78 mm | 556 g | 450 | n | Aug 2007 | 599 | ebay.com | |
14. | Pentax K-3 II | 131 mm | 100 mm | 77 mm | 800 g | 720 | Y | Apr 2015 | 1,099 | ebay.com | |
15. | Pentax K-5 II | 131 mm | 97 mm | 73 mm | 760 g | 740 | Y | Sep 2012 | 1,099 | ebay.com | |
16. | Pentax KP | 132 mm | 101 mm | 76 mm | 703 g | 390 | Y | Jan 2017 | 1,099 | ebay.com | |
17. | Sony A77 | 143 mm | 104 mm | 81 mm | 732 g | 470 | Y | Aug 2011 | 1,399 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The E-330 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 23 percent) than the K-3, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.
Sensor comparison
The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-330 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Pentax K-3 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the K-3 is 63 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.5. The sensor in the E-330 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the K-3 offers a 3:2 aspect.
With 24.1MP, the K-3 offers a higher resolution than the E-330 (7.4MP), but the K-3 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.90μm versus 5.51μm for the E-330). Yet, the K-3 is a much more recent model (by 7 years and 8 months) than the E-330, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the K-3 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.
The resolution advantage of the Pentax K-3 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the K-3 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30.1 x 20 inches or 76.4 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24.1 x 16 inches or 61.1 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20.1 x 13.3 inches or 50.9 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-330 are 15.7 x 11.8 inches or 39.8 x 29.9 cm for good quality, 12.5 x 9.4 inches or 31.9 x 23.9 cm for very good quality, and 10.5 x 7.8 inches or 26.6 x 19.9 cm for excellent quality prints.
The Olympus Evolt E-330 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 400, which can be extended to ISO 100-1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax K-3 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200 (no boost).
Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.
Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-330 | Four Thirds | 7.4 | 3136 | 2352 | none | 20.8 | 10.4 | 73 | 52 | |
2. | Pentax K-3 | APS-C | 24.1 | 6016 | 4000 | 1080/60i | 23.7 | 13.4 | 1216 | 80 | |
3. | Canon XT | APS-C | 8.0 | 3456 | 2304 | none | 21.8 | 10.8 | 637 | 60 | |
4. | Leica Digilux 3 | Four Thirds | 7.4 | 3136 | 2352 | none | 21.0 | 10.6 | 127 | 53 | |
5. | Nikon D80 | APS-C | 10.0 | 3872 | 2592 | none | 22.1 | 11.2 | 524 | 61 | |
6. | Nikon D7100 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.2 | 13.7 | 1256 | 83 | |
7. | Olympus E-300 | Four Thirds | 8.0 | 3264 | 2448 | none | 20.4 | 10.1 | -40 | 48 | |
8. | Olympus E-400 | Four Thirds | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | none | 21.0 | 10.6 | 127 | 53 | |
9. | Olympus E-410 | Four Thirds | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | none | 21.1 | 10.0 | 494 | 51 | |
10. | Olympus E-500 | Four Thirds | 8.0 | 3264 | 2448 | none | 20.7 | 10.3 | 45 | 51 | |
11. | Olympus E-510 | Four Thirds | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | none | 21.2 | 10.0 | 442 | 52 | |
12. | Panasonic L1 | Four Thirds | 7.4 | 3136 | 2352 | none | 20.8 | 10.4 | 80 | 52 | |
13. | Panasonic L10 | Four Thirds | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | none | 21.3 | 10.8 | 429 | 55 | |
14. | Pentax K-3 II | APS-C | 24.1 | 6016 | 4000 | 1080/60i | 23.6 | 13.6 | 1106 | 80 | |
15. | Pentax K-5 II | APS-C | 16.1 | 4928 | 3264 | 1080/25p | 23.8 | 14.1 | 1235 | 82 | |
16. | Pentax KP | APS-C | 24.1 | 6016 | 4000 | 1080/60i | 23.9 | 13.2 | 1699 | 81 | |
17. | Sony A77 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.0 | 13.2 | 801 | 78 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The K-3 indeed provides for movie recording, while the E-330 does not. The highest resolution format that the K-3 can use is 1080/60i.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The E-330 and the K-3 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinder in the K-3 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the E-330 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the K-3 has a higher magnification (0.63x vs 0.47x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-330, the Pentax K-3, and comparable cameras.
Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-330 | optical | n | 2.5 / 215 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
2. | Pentax K-3 | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1037 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 8.3/s | Y | Y | |
3. | Canon XT | optical | n | 1.8 / 115 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
4. | Leica Digilux 3 | optical | n | 2.5 / 207 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
5. | Nikon D80 | optical | n | 2.5 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
6. | Nikon D7100 | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1229 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 6.0/s | Y | n | |
7. | Olympus E-300 | optical | n | 1.8 / 134 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 2.5/s | Y | n | |
8. | Olympus E-400 | optical | n | 2.5 / 215 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
9. | Olympus E-410 | optical | n | 2.5 / 215 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
10. | Olympus E-500 | optical | n | 2.5 / 215 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 2.5/s | Y | n | |
11. | Olympus E-510 | optical | n | 2.5 / 215 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | Y | |
12. | Panasonic L1 | optical | n | 2.5 / 207 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
13. | Panasonic L10 | optical | n | 2.5 / 207 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | Y | n | |
14. | Pentax K-3 II | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1037 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 8.3/s | n | Y | |
15. | Pentax K-5 II | optical | Y | 3.0 / 921 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 7.0/s | Y | Y | |
16. | Pentax KP | optical | n | 3.0 / 921 | tilting | n | 1/6000s | 7.0/s | Y | Y | |
17. | Sony A77 | 2359 | Y | 3.0 / 921 | full-flex | n | 1/8000s | 12.0/s | Y | Y | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
One feature that differentiates the K-3 and the E-330 is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The K-3 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the E-330 offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.
The Pentax K-3 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.
The E-330 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the K-3 uses SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus Evolt E-330 and Pentax K-3 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-330 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
2. | Pentax K-3 | Y | mono / mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
3. | Canon XT | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
4. | Leica Digilux 3 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
5. | Nikon D80 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
6. | Nikon D7100 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
7. | Olympus E-300 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
8. | Olympus E-400 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
9. | Olympus E-410 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
10. | Olympus E-500 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
11. | Olympus E-510 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
12. | Panasonic L1 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
13. | Panasonic L10 | Y | - / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
14. | Pentax K-3 II | Y | mono / mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
15. | Pentax K-5 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
16. | Pentax KP | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | - | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
17. | Sony A77 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - |
Studio photographers will appreciate that the Pentax K-3 (unlike the E-330) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.
Both the E-330 and the K-3 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The K-3 was replaced by the Pentax K-3 II, while the E-330 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the E-330 and K-3 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-330 Manual (free pdf) or the online Pentax K-3 Manual.
Review summary
So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus E-330 or the Pentax K-3 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.
Reasons to prefer the Olympus Evolt E-330:
- Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
- More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
- Less heavy: Is lighter (by 163g or 20 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
- Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 560) on a single battery charge.
- More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (23 percent cheaper at launch).
- More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2006).
Arguments in favor of the Pentax K-3:
- More detail: Has more megapixels (24.1 vs 7.4MP), which boosts linear resolution by 84%.
- Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
- Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
- Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
- More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
- Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
- Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/60i video.
- More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
- Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.63x vs 0.47x).
- Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
- Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 215k dots).
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8.3 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
- Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
- Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
- Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
- Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
- More modern: Reflects 7 years and 8 months of technical progress since the E-330 launch.
If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the K-3 is the clear winner of the contest (20 : 6 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-330 and the Pentax K-3 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-330 or the K-3. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.
Expert reviews
This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Olympus E-330 | .. | .. | .. | + | o | .. | Jan 2006 | 999 | ebay.com | |
2. | Pentax K-3 | 4/5 | .. | .. | 83/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2013 | 1,299 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon XT | .. | 80/100 | .. | + + | o | .. | Feb 2005 | 899 | ebay.com | |
4. | Leica Digilux 3 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Sep 2006 | 1,499 | ebay.com | |
5. | Nikon D80 | .. | + | .. | + + | o | 4.5/5 | Aug 2006 | 999 | ebay.com | |
6. | Nikon D7100 | 5/5 | + + | .. | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2013 | 1,199 | ebay.com | |
7. | Olympus E-300 | .. | .. | .. | + | o | 4.5/5 | Sep 2004 | 799 | ebay.com | |
8. | Olympus E-400 | .. | 85/100 | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Sep 2006 | 699 | ebay.com | |
9. | Olympus E-410 | .. | 86/100 | .. | + + | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2007 | 699 | ebay.com | |
10. | Olympus E-500 | .. | 76/100 | .. | + + | .. | .. | Sep 2005 | 599 | ebay.com | |
11. | Olympus E-510 | .. | 89/100 | .. | + + | 3.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2007 | 799 | ebay.com | |
12. | Panasonic L1 | .. | 85/100 | .. | + | .. | 3.5/5 | Feb 2006 | 999 | ebay.com | |
13. | Panasonic L10 | .. | 85/100 | .. | + | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | Aug 2007 | 599 | ebay.com | |
14. | Pentax K-3 II | 4.5/5 | .. | .. | .. | 5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2015 | 1,099 | ebay.com | |
15. | Pentax K-5 II | 5/5 | .. | .. | 80/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2012 | 1,099 | ebay.com | |
16. | Pentax KP | 4/5 | .. | 3/5 | 82/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2017 | 1,099 | ebay.com | |
17. | Sony A77 | 5/5 | 91/100 | .. | 81/100 | .. | 5/5 | Aug 2011 | 1,399 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon G1 X vs Olympus E-330
- Canon SL1 vs Olympus E-330
- Canon T3 vs Olympus E-330
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs Olympus E-330
- Nikon 1 J5 vs Pentax K-3
- Nikon D1 vs Olympus E-330
- Nikon D3S vs Pentax K-3
- Olympus E-330 vs Panasonic TZ95
- Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax K-3
- Panasonic GF6 vs Pentax K-3
- Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-3
- Pentax K-3 vs Sony A3000
Specifications: Olympus E-330 vs Pentax K-3
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Olympus E-330 | Pentax K-3 |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | Digital single lens reflex |
Camera Lens | Four Thirds lenses | Pentax K mount lenses |
Launch Date | January 2006 | October 2013 |
Launch Price | USD 999 | USD 1,299 |
Sensor Specs | Olympus E-330 | Pentax K-3 |
Sensor Technology | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor Format | Four Thirds Sensor | APS-C Sensor |
Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm | 23.5 x 15.6 mm |
Sensor Area | 224.9 mm2 | 366.6 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 21.6 mm | 28.2 mm |
Crop Factor | 2.0x | 1.5x |
Sensor Resolution | 7.4 Megapixels | 24.1 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 3136 x 2352 pixels | 6016 x 4000 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 5.51 μm | 3.90 μm |
Pixel Density | 3.28 MP/cm2 | 6.56 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | no AA filter |
Movie Capability | no Video | 1080/60i Video |
ISO Setting | 100 - 400 ISO | 100 - 51,200 ISO |
ISO Boost | 100 - 1,600 ISO | no Enhancement |
Image Processor | TruePic | PRIME III |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | .. | 80 |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | .. | 23.7 |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | .. | 13.4 |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | .. | 1216 |
Screen Specs | Olympus E-330 | Pentax K-3 |
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | Optical viewfinder |
Viewfinder Field of View | 95% | 100% |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.47x | 0.63x |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | Control Panel |
LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
Rear LCD Size | 2.5inch | 3.2inch |
LCD Resolution | 215k dots | 1037k dots |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | Fixed screen |
Shooting Specs | Olympus E-330 | Pentax K-3 |
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | Phase-detect AF |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | Focus Peaking |
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/4000s | 1/8000s |
Continuous Shooting | 3 shutter flaps/s | 8.3 shutter flaps/s |
Time-Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | Intervalometer built-in |
Image Stabilization | Lens stabilization only | In-body stabilization |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | Built-in Flash |
Storage Medium | CF or XD cards | SDXC cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | Dual card slots |
Connectivity Specs | Olympus E-330 | Pentax K-3 |
External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
Studio Flash | no PC Sync | PC Sync socket |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
HDMI Port | no HDMI | mini HDMI |
Microphone Port | no MIC socket | External MIC port |
Headphone Socket | no Headphone port | Headphone port |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | no Wifi |
Body Specs | Olympus E-330 | Pentax K-3 |
Environmental Sealing | not weather sealed | Weathersealed body |
Battery Type | Olympus BLM-1 | Pentax D-LI90 |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 750 shots per charge | 560 shots per charge |
Body Dimensions |
140 x 87 x 72 mm (5.5 x 3.4 x 2.8 in) |
131 x 100 x 77 mm (5.2 x 3.9 x 3.0 in) |
Camera Weight | 637 g (22.5 oz) | 800 g (28.2 oz) |
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