Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500
77 Imaging
44 Features
36 Overall
40
64 Imaging
57 Features
70 Overall
62
Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs
(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
(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
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms 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.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe 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.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-420 & Pentax K-500. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-420 Gallery & Pentax K-500 Gallery.
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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | November 2013 | June 2008 | More recent by 66 months | |
| Display dimensions | 3" | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") | |
| Display resolution | 921k | 230k | Sharper display (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-500
| E-420 | K-500 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manually focus | Very precise focusing | |||
| Display type | Fixed | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthStreet Comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneSports Comparison
Photography GlossaryTravel Comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsLandscape Comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideVlogging Comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications
| Olympus E-420 | Pentax 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 |