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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 II

The Olympus PEN E-P1 and the Pentax K-3 II are two enthusiast cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in June 2009 and April 2015. The E-P1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the K-3 II is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (E-P1) and an APS-C (K-3 II) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 12.2 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.

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-P1
versus
Pentax K-3 II
Olympus E-P1   Pentax K-3 II
Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
Micro Four Thirds lenses Pentax K mount lenses
12.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor 24.1 MP – APS-C sensor
720/30p Video 1080/60i Video
ISO 100-6,400 ISO 100-51,200
No viewfinder, LCD framing Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 230k dots 3.2" LCD – 1037k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second 8.3 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
300 shots per battery charge720 shots per battery charge
121 x 70 x 36 mm, 355 g 131 x 100 x 77 mm, 800 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus PEN E-P1 and the Pentax K-3 II? 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.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-P1 and the Pentax K-3 II. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-P1 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, white), while the K-3 II is available in two color-versions (black, silver).

Size Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 II
Compare E-P1 versus K-3 II top
Comparison E-P1 or K-3 II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax K-3 II is considerably larger (55 percent) than the Olympus E-P1. Moreover, the K-3 II is substantially heavier (125 percent) than the E-P1. It is noteworthy in this context that the K-3 II is splash and dust-proof, while the E-P1 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-P1 gets 300 shots out of its Olympus BLS-1 battery, while the K-3 II can take 720 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.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-P1 121 mm 70 mm 36 mm 355 g 300 n Jun 2009 799ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax K-3 II 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 720 Y Apr 2015 1,099ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D7200 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 1110 Y Mar 2015 1,199ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-P3 122 mm 69 mm 34 mm 369 g 330 n Jun 2011 799ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-PL2 114 mm 72 mm 42 mm 362 g 280 n Jan 2011 599ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-PL3 110 mm 64 mm 37 mm 313 g 300 n Jun 2011 599ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-PL1 115 mm 72 mm 42 mm 334 g 290 n Feb 2010 599ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-620 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 521 g 500 n Feb 2009 699ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-P2 121 mm 70 mm 36 mm 355 g 300 n Nov 2009 799ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-520 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 535 g 750 n May 2008 699ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic G10 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 388 g 380 n Mar 2010 499ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GF1 119 mm 71 mm 36 mm 385 g 380 n Sep 2009 749ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic GH1 124 mm 90 mm 45 mm 385 g 300 n Mar 2009 899ebay.com
14.
 
Pentax K-3 III 135 mm 104 mm 74 mm 820 g 800 Y Mar 2021 1,999 amazon.com
15.
 
Pentax K-S2 123 mm 91 mm 73 mm 678 g 410 Y Feb 2015 749ebay.com
16.
 
Pentax K-3 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 560 Y Oct 2013 1,299ebay.com
17.
 
Pentax K-5 II 131 mm 97 mm 73 mm 760 g 740 Y Sep 2012 1,099ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The E-P1 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 27 percent) than the K-3 II, which puts it into a different market segment. 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 size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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 associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-P1 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Pentax K-3 II an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the K-3 II 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-P1 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the K-3 II offers a 3:2 aspect.

Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-3 II sensor measures

With 24.1MP, the K-3 II offers a higher resolution than the E-P1 (12.2MP), but the K-3 II has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.90μm versus 4.29μm for the E-P1). Yet, the K-3 II is a much more recent model (by 5 years and 10 months) than the E-P1, 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 II 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 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the K-3 II 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-P1 are 20.2 x 15.1 inches or 51.2 x 38.4 cm for good quality, 16.1 x 12.1 inches or 41 x 30.7 cm for very good quality, and 13.4 x 10.1 inches or 34.1 x 25.6 cm for excellent quality prints.

Unlike the E-P1, the K-3 II has the capacity to capture high quality composite images by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Olympus PEN E-P1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax K-3 II 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.

E-P1 versus K-3 II MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the K-3 II offers substantially better image quality than the E-P1 (overall score 25 points higher). The advantage is based on 2.2 bits higher color depth, 3.2 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-P1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.410.453655
2.
 
Pentax K-3 II APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.613.6110680
3.
 
Nikon D7200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.514.6133387
4.
 
Olympus E-P3 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i20.810.153651
5.
 
Olympus E-PL2 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.410.257355
6.
 
Olympus E-PL3 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i20.910.349952
7.
 
Olympus E-PL1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.510.148754
8.
 
Olympus E-620 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.310.353655
9.
 
Olympus E-P2 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.510.450556
10.
 
Olympus E-520 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.410.454855
11.
 
Panasonic G10 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.141152
12.
 
Panasonic GF1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.351354
13.
 
Panasonic GH1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/24p21.611.677264
14.
 
Pentax K-3 III APS-C 25.6 6192 41284K/30p24.213.7208385
15.
 
Pentax K-S2 APS-C 20.0 5472 36481080/30p23.612.9151479
16.
 
Pentax K-3 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.713.4121680
17.
 
Pentax K-5 II APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/25p23.814.1123582
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the K-3 II provides a better video resolution than the E-P1. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60i, while the Olympus is limited to 720/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the K-3 II has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the E-P1 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-3 II in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image 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-P1none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n Y
2.
 
Pentax K-3 IIoptical Y3.2 / 1037 fixed n 1/8000s 8.3/s n Y
3.
 
Nikon D7200optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
4.
 
Olympus E-P3optional n3.0 / 614 fixed Y 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
5.
 
Olympus E-PL2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
6.
 
Olympus E-PL3optional n3.0 / 460 tilting n 1/4000s 5.5/s n Y
7.
 
Olympus E-PL1optional n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/2000s 3.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Olympus E-620optical n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Olympus E-P2optional n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n Y
10.
 
Olympus E-520optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y Y
11.
 
Panasonic G10202 n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
12.
 
Panasonic GF1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Panasonic GH11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
14.
 
Pentax K-3 IIIoptical Y3.2 / 1620 fixed Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
15.
 
Pentax K-S2optical n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/6000s 5.4/s Y Y
16.
 
Pentax K-3optical Y3.2 / 1037 fixed n 1/8000s 8.3/s Y Y
17.
 
Pentax K-5 IIoptical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One feature that is present on the K-3 II, but is missing on the E-P1 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The Pentax K-3 II 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-P1 writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the K-3 II uses SDXC cards. The K-3 II features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the E-P1 only has one slot. The K-3 II supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the E-P1 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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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 PEN E-P1 and Pentax K-3 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus E-P1Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
2.
 
Pentax K-3 IIYmono / monoYYmini3.0---
3.
 
Nikon D7200Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0YY-
4.
 
Olympus E-P3Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
5.
 
Olympus E-PL2Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
6.
 
Olympus E-PL3Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
7.
 
Olympus E-PL1Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
8.
 
Olympus E-620Y- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Olympus E-P2Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
10.
 
Olympus E-520Y- / ----2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic G10Ymono / ---mini2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic GF1Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic GH1Ystereo / -Y-mini2.0---
14.
 
Pentax K-3 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2Y-Y
15.
 
Pentax K-S2Ymono / monoY-micro2.0YY-
16.
 
Pentax K-3Ymono / monoYYmini3.0---
17.
 
Pentax K-5 IIYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
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It is notable that the K-3 II has a headphone jack, which makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process. The E-P1 lacks such a headphone port.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Pentax K-3 II (unlike the E-P1) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the K-3 II has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

Both the E-P1 and the K-3 II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-P1 was replaced by the Olympus E-P2, while the K-3 II was followed by the Pentax K-3 III. Further information on the features and operation of the E-P1 and K-3 II can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-P1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Pentax K-3 II Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Olympus E-P1 better than the Pentax K-3 II or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Reasons to prefer the Olympus PEN E-P1:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • More compact: Is smaller (121x70mm vs 131x100mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 445g or 56 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (27 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in June 2009).

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Advantages of the Pentax K-3 II:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24.1 vs 12.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 43%.
  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (25 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (2.2 bits more color depth).
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (3.2 EV of extra DR).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/60i vs 720/30p).
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 230k 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.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (720 versus 300) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
  • 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.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More modern: Reflects 5 years and 10 months of technical progress since the E-P1 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the K-3 II is the clear winner of the contest (25 : 6 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-P1 06:25 K-3 II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-P1 and the Pentax K-3 II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the E-P1 or the K-3 II perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-P1..+..66/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2009 799ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax K-3 II4.5/5......5/55/5 Apr 2015 1,099ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D72004/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2015 1,199ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-P3..83/100..74/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2011 799ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-PL23/583/100..71/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2011 599ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-PL33/5+ +..72/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 599ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-PL1..86/100..69/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2010 599ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-6203/588/100..72/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2009 699ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-P23/5+..69/1004/54.5/5 Nov 2009 799ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-520..87/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 May 2008 699ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic G103/5....70/1004/54/5 Mar 2010 499ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GF1..85/100..69/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 749ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic GH1..+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 899ebay.com
14.
 
Pentax K-3 III4/5..3/5..4.5/5.. Mar 2021 1,999 amazon.com
15.
 
Pentax K-S24.5/5......5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
16.
 
Pentax K-34/5....83/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 1,299ebay.com
17.
 
Pentax K-5 II5/5....80/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 1,099ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-3 II

    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 Specifications
    Camera Model Olympus E-P1 Pentax K-3 II
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Pentax K mount lenses
    Launch Date June 2009 April 2015
    Launch Price USD 799 USD 1,099
    Sensor Specs Olympus E-P1 Pentax K-3 II
    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 12.2 Megapixels 24.1 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4032 x 3024 pixels 6016 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.29 μm 3.90 μm
    Pixel Density 5.42 MP/cm2 6.56 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 720/30p Video 1080/60i Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic V PRIME III
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 55 80
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.4 23.6
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.4 13.6
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 536 1106
    Screen Specs Olympus E-P1 Pentax K-3 II
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.63x
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.2inch
    LCD Resolution 230k dots 1037k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Olympus E-P1 Pentax K-3 II
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 8.3 shutter flaps/s
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDHC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support no UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Olympus E-P1 Pentax K-3 II
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Geotagging no internal GPS GPS built-in
    Body Specs Olympus E-P1 Pentax K-3 II
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Olympus BLS-1 Pentax D-LI90
    Battery Life (CIPA)300 shots per charge720 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36 mm
    (4.8 x 2.8 x 1.4 in)
    131 x 100 x 77 mm
    (5.2 x 3.9 x 3.0 in)
    Camera Weight 355 g (12.5 oz) 800 g (28.2 oz)
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