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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Announced March 2009
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
  • Released November 2013
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-500, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-30 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-30 was unveiled 5 years earlier than the K-500 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-30 grades vs the K-500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Pentax K-500

 E-30 K-500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-30

 K-500 E-30 
ReleasedNovember 2013March 2009More modern by 56 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-500

 E-30 K-500 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 has got exterior dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") along with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-30 against the K-500.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and K-500 is 60 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes just by going over technical specs. The picture below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-30 and K-500.

As you have seen, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-30 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will deliver greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-30 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography features
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
74
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography advice
Pentax K-500 Street photography advice
72
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
very good ISO range (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-500 Sports photography factors
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
low battery (750 shots)
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery life (710 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
49
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
no Timelapse function
low battery (750 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
67
great battery life (710 per charge)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
52
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low MP (12MP)
low battery (750 shots)
no Timelapse function
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-500 Vlogging advice
18
no video recording
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-30 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus E-30Pentax K-500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-30 Pentax K-500
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-03-24 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 51600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal II LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 grams (1.53 lbs) 646 grams (1.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 13.1
DXO Low light score 530 1087
Other
Battery life 750 shots 710 shots
Battery form Battery Pack AA
Battery model BLM-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $1,299 $600