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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-5
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax K-500, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-3 (10MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-3 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was launched 6 years before the K-500 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-3 matches up versus the K-500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Pentax K-500

 E-3 K-500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-3

 K-500 E-3 
LaunchedNovember 2013February 2008More modern by 70 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Pentax K-500

 E-3 K-500 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 features exterior measurements of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

See the Olympus E-3 versus Pentax K-500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-3 compared to the K-500.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and K-500 is 56 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes merely by researching specifications. The image underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-3 and K-500.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-3 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged E-3 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-3
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
56
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
resolution not great (10MP)
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
69
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
very good ISO range (51,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography details
Pentax K-500 Sports photography details
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second low (5.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10MP)
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery (710 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography information
Pentax K-500 Travel photography information
55
weather sealing
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
67
good battery (710 shots)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
56
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW formats
good battery (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-500 Vlogging advice
18
can't shoot video
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus E-3Pentax K-500
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-3 Pentax K-500
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2008-02-20 2013-11-27
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 51600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 890g (1.96 lbs) 646g (1.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 13.1
DXO Low light rating 571 1087
Other
Battery life - 710 shots
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), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $670 $600