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Olympus E-400 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
31
Overall
38
Olympus E-400 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-400 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-400
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 435g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Revealed September 2006
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-410
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed November 2013
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Olympus E-400 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

The following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-400 and Pentax K-500, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-400 (10MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-400 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-400 was released 8 years before the K-500 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-400 grades versus the K-500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-400 over the Pentax K-500

 E-400 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-400

 K-500 E-400 
RevealedNovember 2013September 2006Newer by 87 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k215kClearer display (+706k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-400 and Pentax K-500

 E-400 K-500 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-400 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-400 comes with external dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 435 grams (0.96 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-400 and Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-400 compared to the K-500.

Olympus E-400 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-400 and K-500 is 77 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-400 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions purely by going through a spec sheet. The pic here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-400 and K-500.

As you can see, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-400 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will show extra detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-400 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-400 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-400 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-400 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography advice
46
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
lack of manual mode
low MP (10MP)
74
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-400
Street photography with Pentax K-500
60
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
above average high ISO (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-400 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-500 Sports photography advice
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking focus
better than average battery power (710 CIPA)
comes with phase detect autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-400
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
49
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low MP (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
67
better than average battery power (710 per charge)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-400 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
45
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-400
Vlogging with Pentax K-500
9
no video shooting
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-400 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-400 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus E-400Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-400 Pentax K-500
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2006-09-14 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 51600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 215 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 435g (0.96 lbs) 646g (1.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1087
Other
Battery life - 710 shots
Battery type - AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $599 $600