Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500
56 Imaging
44 Features
56 Overall
48
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64 Imaging
58 Features
70 Overall
62
Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs
(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
(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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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-3 & Pentax K-500. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-3 Gallery & Pentax K-500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Pentax K-500
E-3 | K-500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-3
K-500 | E-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | November 2013 | ![]() | February 2008 | More modern by 70 months |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Screen resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer 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.
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.
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Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-3 and K-500 is 56 and 64 respectively.
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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.
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Olympus E-3 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications
Olympus E-3 | Pentax 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 |