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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Efina

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Pentax Efina front
Portability
97
Imaging
38
Features
26
Overall
33

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Efina Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Increase to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-500
  • New Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax Efina
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 91g - 87 x 54 x 21mm
  • Introduced June 2013
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Efina Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus E-500 and Pentax Efina, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and Efina (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and Efina (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-500 was manufactured 8 years prior to the Efina and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax Efina being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-500 scores against the Efina with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Pentax Efina

 E-500 Efina 
Manually focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Pentax Efina over the Olympus E-500

 Efina E-500 
IntroducedJune 2013October 2005Fresher by 92 months
Screen resolution230k215kSharper screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Pentax Efina

 E-500 Efina 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.5"2.5"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Efina Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 features external dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Pentax Efina has specifications of 87mm x 54mm x 21mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 91 grams (0.20 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 and Pentax Efina in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-500 versus the Efina.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Efina size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and Efina is 70 and 97 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Efina top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Efina Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizing just by checking technical specs. The photograph here might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and Efina.

As you can tell, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-500 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax Efina will give you extra detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Efina sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Efina Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography advice
Pentax Efina Portrait photography advice
48
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
low MP (8 megapixels)
34
good MP (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography factors
Pentax Efina Street photography factors
56
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others (479g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
64
has image stabilization (Digital)
lighter than competitors (91g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography highlights
Pentax Efina Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
35
has image stabilization (Digital)
good MP (14MP)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,400 seconds)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography information
Pentax Efina Travel photography information
52
lighter than others (479 grams)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
low MP (8 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competitors (91g)
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography information
Pentax Efina Landscape photography information
43
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
no Timelapse mode
38
decently wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Digital)
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Pentax Efina
9
no video recording
33
decently wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Digital)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competitors (91 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Efina Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Pentax Efina
 Olympus E-500Pentax Efina
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-500 Pentax Efina
Also called EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Revealed 2005-10-21 2013-06-03
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 400 1600
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Macro focusing distance - 20cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5" 2.5"
Display resolution 215 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - QVGA TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 1/8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1400 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.10 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479g (1.06 pounds) 91g (0.20 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 87 x 54 x 21mm (3.4" x 2.1" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SC/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $600 $10