[Surovi]

Did anyone used both?
Can someone compare.
I am mostly interested in the autofocus speed and accuracy.
Thanks!

[rrstuff]

Did anyone used both?
Can someone compare.
I am mostly interested in the autofocus speed and accuracy.
Thanks!

I used both E-3 and the K-3. Both are very quick, the E-3 seems to have less micro-adjustments at the end, right before it hits the focus. Accuracy-wise, K-3 has a much bigger task to do, because of the higher resolution and lower depth of focus, so it might not be a fair comparison. E-3 seemed pretty accurate (i only used it with a 40-150 F3.5-4.5), K-3 is usually accurate, but I am having trouble with accurate focusing of the DA50mm F1.8. Other lenses are quite predictable and AF performance is generally very good. the contrast AF of the new line of MFT cameras is very good, if you are looking for a single-point speed.

[BigMackCam]

K-3 is usually accurate, but I am having trouble with accurate focusing of the DA50mm F1.8.

I also find AF a little hit and miss at times with the DA50 f/1.8 on my K3. I've read that it's quite common. It is worth bearing in mind, though, that three of the K3's AF points are at f/2.8 while the others are at f/5.6, so when shooting anything wider than this, it's not unusual for focus to be very slightly off. Using Live View (and, hence, CDAF) will often nail the focus more accurately.

[Oldbayrunner]

Ok this one I can really talk about since I used Oly's for a number of years starting with the Camedia, E300, E500, E520, E620 & E3. I considered getting an E5 however I dropped that thought as Oly virtually gave up on the dslr Market and I didn't want to go mirrorless at the time or down the road so I switched to Pentax. I loved my Oly's and Oly glass but the main draw backs were Low light AF and the high noise factor of the 4/3rds sensor. The three models are similar in shutter quietness and kit lenses vs primes sharpness but the Pentax K3/K3 ll smokes the E3/E5 with much less high ISO noise and in several other areas that are too many to go into detail. Both Oly cameras are several years old now in technology considering Oly's last dslr model E5 came out in 2010. I miss having an articulating screen but Not That Much considering how much better the Pentax cameras are. Granted I could get a Ks2 but I dont want to give up all that the K3/K3ll has to offer for that feature.

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Last edited by Oldbayrunner; 01-08-2016 at 08:19 AM.

[Surovi]

Thanks everyone!


I had E3, 14-54 and 50-200 and I would like to know what to expect from AF in K3.
I don`t want something slower
A little faster should be ok

[Chris Mak]

It really depends a lot on the lens. The Oly lenses were all focus by wire, whereas the Pentax lenses are a combination of screwdrive and various in-lens motor drives, so there's a lot more variation in the latter. In just about every other area (except perhaps weight), the Pentax bodies smoke the Olympus ones.

I loved my Oly DSLR bodies and lenses, but the interminable wait for the E-5, combined with how underwhelming it was when it finally arrived, is what ppushed me firmly into the Pentax system. Once Olympus got out of the DSLR business, I was even happier that I made the decision that I did.

Olympus actually designed and built into a working body the E7 that many at that time were still hoping for to use their Zuiko lenses on. They developed it in tandem with the EM-5, and it is the latter that eventually made it into production, meaning the (long predicted) ending of the 4/3 system. Both featured the first Sony sensor made for Olympus. I switched to Pentax a few months before the EM-5 launch. Looking back, the Zuiko SHG lenses were great, but the Apsc sensor size offered too many advantages to long regret the demise of 4/3. Particularly the bokeh was too jittery and overall IQ too strained even with otherwise great and sharp lenses as the 150f2. A similar and further "relaxation on the eyes" was what I noticed when I got into FF with the Sony A7r and some Zeiss K mount lenses.

Chris

[Fauxton]

Did anyone used both?
Can someone compare.
I am mostly interested in the autofocus speed and accuracy.
Thanks!

See Tested: Olympus E5 | Popular Photography and compare with Camera Test: Pentax K-3 DSLR | Popular Photography also for interest there is Camera Test: Olympus E-30 | Popular Photography and Lab Test: Pentax K-5 | Popular Photography

This site is about the only one I know that can give some quantitative measurement on AF.

I came from Olympus although I did not have the E5. I had the E510 and E30. I now have the K3 and K5 with a good selection of lens, Pentax, Sigma and Tamron. The AF in the K3 is much much better than the E30 in every way. As the the E5 had a similar AF module to the E30 and differed on processor (Truepic III versus V+) the E5 was quicker than the E30. But from the tests I'd say that the K3 performs better against the E5 than the E5 against the E30. Note the K5 beats the E5 as well. It was announced roughly the same time the E5 was. And from my experience the K3 AF is superior to the K5 in many ways - its quite an advance.

[Surovi]

Thanks!
Excellent links/reviews, but, I can`t see on what basis you concluded that E5 is worse than K5 and K3.

K5: 0.28@12; 0.48@6; 0.85@3; 1.17@0
K3: 0.38@12; 0.44@6; 0.60@3; 1.09@0
E5: 0.28@12; 0.48@6; 0.60@3; 1.32@0

All look pretty equal, if not dark.

Some say that E5 is better than K5: Battle of the Flagships: Olympus E-5, Pentax K5, Canon 7D, Nikon D300s: Which is Better? - The Phoblographer

So, it seems to me that they are very similar when there are plenty of light, and that the e5 is bad when in the dark (I know that ).

[Oldbayrunner]

Thanks!
Excellent links/reviews, but, I can`t see on what basis you concluded that E5 is worse than K5 and K3.

K5: 0.28@12; 0.48@6; 0.85@3; 1.17@0
K3: 0.38@12; 0.44@6; 0.60@3; 1.09@0
E5: 0.28@12; 0.48@6; 0.60@3; 1.32@0

All look pretty equal, if not dark.

Some say that E5 is better than K5: Battle of the Flagships: Olympus E-5, Pentax K5, Canon 7D, Nikon D300s: Which is Better? - The Phoblographer

So, it seems to me that they are very similar when there are plenty of light, and that the e5 is bad when in the dark (I know that ).

Olympus E-5 vs Pentax K-3 Detailed Comparison

[Surovi]

Thanks!
I`m interested in the AF speed and accuracy from the the user experience.

[Fauxton]

Thanks!
Excellent links/reviews, but, I can`t see on what basis you concluded that E5 is worse than K5 and K3.

K5: 0.28@12; 0.48@6; 0.85@3; 1.17@0
K3: 0.38@12; 0.44@6; 0.60@3; 1.09@0
E5: 0.28@12; 0.48@6; 0.60@3; 1.32@0

All look pretty equal, if not dark.

Some say that E5 is better than K5: Battle of the Flagships: Olympus E-5, Pentax K5, Canon 7D, Nikon D300s: Which is Better? - The Phoblographer

So, it seems to me that they are very similar when there are plenty of light, and that the e5 is bad when in the dark (I know that ).

I see what you mean. However the thing I find quite indicative is the time in seconds at 0 EV and -2 EV. You can compare them with the Nikon 7100 which does have faster performance than the K3 - see Camera Test: Nikon D7100 | Popular Photography. And the roughly 200 milisecond difference is noticeable at 0 EV and -2 EV.
Another thing to take into consideration that often is not is how the lens affects the speed, reliability and consistency of the focus. For example although the new Sigma ART 18-35 1.8 is a fine, fine lens it can't reliably autofocus on at least the Pentax bodies. There are some lenses that work better than others and it doesn't really seem to make much difference whether its screw drive or HSM/DC/SDM. It seems more lens model dependent. In short, no matter the body or the speed of the focus its pretty much moot if you can't reliably hit the mark. Carrying this further, Olympus had this (accuracy) nailed with its Zuiko DSLR lens lineup. Rarely, if ever, did/do I get a miss (the E510/15-54 is very consistent as was the E30). But there is also less of a critical concern on DOF as well in the (u)4/3rds format. Currently (aside from the OVF/EVF arguments which I find get tiresome fast) Olympus (in part given the format in other part the excellent design and consistent quality) has the edge over many DSLR makers in accuracy (consistency and reliability) but likely not speed. Which is to be expected - Phase Detection is inherently quicker, Contract Detect inherently more accurate. I say "inherently" not to say Contrast Detect can't be developed to be quicker over today's Phase Detect systems - just that its easier to do something with one design than another, given the same investment of resources. Lastly we can talk more about tracking or burst shooting accuracy between the systems; but I digress.
Bottom line is that the K5 with all its known warts is as good or in my view better than the E5 in autofocus in anything but tungsten light and the K3 sees that bet and ante's up with a far more developed and capable system. It is quicker and far more reliable across a wide range of situations - given an appropriate lens choice (i.e. choose a current model lens like the Pentax 20-40 or 16-85 or 18-135 or Sigma 17-50, 17-70 if you are into zooms or the 40 2.8 or Sigma primes for example if you are into primes - there are other models in the Pentax lineup that would be recommended as there are in either Sigma's or Tamron's lineup - the point is you need to research the lens combo for you use case. The K3 would normally be expected to have a good AF as it would need to be, with 24 MP and a bit more sensitivity as a format to DOF than the E5.

[Surovi]

Thanks!
I`m considering Sigma 17-70/2.8-4 C.
I would like to buy the Pentax 17-70/4 od DA* zooms, but...you know

[clackers]

Thanks!
I`m considering Sigma 17-70/2.8-4 C.

That's my walkaround ... very happy with it.

[Oldbayrunner]

It's my walk around along with my Sigma 10-20mm DC

[Surovi]

It may be mine too.
Thanks!