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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Succeeded the 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
  • Announced November 2013
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Below is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-500, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-420 was released 6 years before the K-500 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-420 matches up vs the K-500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Pentax K-500

 E-420 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-420

 K-500 E-420 
AnnouncedNovember 2013June 2008More recent by 66 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-500

 E-420 K-500 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-420 has physical dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst 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-420 and Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-420 and the K-500.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and K-500 is 77 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements simply by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and K-500.

Clearly, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-420 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-500 will result in more detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos more aggressively. The older E-420 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-420
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
56
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
74
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography information
Pentax K-500 Street photography information
64
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (426 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
above average high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-500 Sports photography factors
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
bad battery power (500 CIPA)
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery life (710 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-420
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
52
lighter than others (426 grams)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (500 per charge)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
67
better than average battery life (710 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
47
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
bad battery power (500 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging features
Pentax K-500 Vlogging features
9
can't record video
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone socket
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus E-420Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-420 Pentax K-500
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2008-06-23 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 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
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s 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)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426g (0.94 lb) 646g (1.42 lb)
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 Overall score 56 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 13.1
DXO Low light score 527 1087
Other
Battery life 500 shots 710 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $999 $600