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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Announced November 2003
  • Updated by Olympus E-3
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced November 2013
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-500, one is a Pro DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-1 was brought out 11 years earlier than the K-500 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-1 grades against the K-500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Pentax K-500

 E-1 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-1

 K-500 E-1 
AnnouncedNovember 2013November 2003More modern by 121 months
Display size3"1.8"Larger display (+1.2")
Display resolution921k134kCrisper display (+787k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-500

 E-1 K-500 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-1 has outside dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-1 compared to the K-500.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-1 and K-500 is 59 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes merely by checking out technical specs. The image underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-1 and K-500.

As you have seen, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-1 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will provide greater detail having its extra 11MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography advice
46
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (5MP)
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
57
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
lighter than average (735g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good high ISO (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
40
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (5MP)
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (710 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-1
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
47
lighter than average (735 grams)
weather proofing
lack of Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (5MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
67
better than average battery power (710 CIPA)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography features
46
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
tiny screen (1.8")
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (5 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-500 Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-1 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus E-1Pentax K-500
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-1 Pentax K-500
Type Pro DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2003-11-29 2013-11-27
Body design Large SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 5 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 2560 x 1920 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 51600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 1.8 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 134 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 735 grams (1.62 lb) 646 grams (1.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1087
Other
Battery life - 710 photographs
Form of battery - AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $1,700 $600