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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-01 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
  • Launched October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Announced May 2012
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-500 versus Pentax K-01, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and K-01 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-500 was revealed 7 years prior to the K-01 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-500 matches up against the K-01 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Pentax K-01

 E-500 K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus E-500

 K-01 E-500 
AnnouncedMay 2012October 2005Newer by 80 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k215kClearer display (+706k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-01

 E-500 K-01 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 comes with exterior measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Pentax K-01 has specifications of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") with a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-500 versus Pentax K-01 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-500 vs the K-01.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and K-01 is 70 and 76 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions only by seeing technical specs. The pic here should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and K-01.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-01 will show extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Pentax K-01
49
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
low resolution (8MP)
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography information
Pentax K-01 Street photography information
57
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (479g)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
more heavy than average (561g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-01 Sports photography advice
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low resolution (8MP)
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery power (540 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-01 Travel photography highlights
52
lighter than competitors in class (479 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low resolution (8MP)
display is not selfie friendly
65
good battery power (540 CIPA)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
more heavy than average (561 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-01 Landscape photography advice
43
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
no image stabilization
low resolution (8 megapixels)
low max ISO (400)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
80
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (540 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging info
Pentax K-01 Vlogging info
9
can't shoot video
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
more heavy than average (561 grams)
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-01
 Olympus E-500Pentax K-01
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-500 Pentax K-01
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2005-10-21 2012-05-30
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD 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 8 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 400 12800
Highest boosted ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 215k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file 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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479g (1.06 pounds) 561g (1.24 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 1135
Other
Battery life - 540 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $600 $899