Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3
70 Imaging
41 Features
34 Overall
38
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59 Imaging
65 Features
85 Overall
73
Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Screen
- 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
- New Model is Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3.2" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 51200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
- Announced April 2014
- Refreshed by Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 Overview
Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-3, both Advanced DSLR cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.
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The E-500 was introduced 9 years prior to the K-3 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).
Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-500 matches up versus the K-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-3. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-500 Gallery and Pentax K-3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Pentax K-3
E-500 | K-3 |
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Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-500
K-3 | E-500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | April 2014 | ![]() | October 2005 | More recent by 103 months |
Display sizing | 3.2" | ![]() | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.7") |
Display resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 215k | Sharper display (+822k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-3
E-500 | K-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Very precise focus | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | No selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | No Touch friendly display |
Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison
For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-500 has outside dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has proportions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).
Contrast the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-500 against the K-3.
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Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and K-3 is 70 and 59 respectively.
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison
Normally, it's difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements merely by checking out specs. The photograph here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and K-3.
As you can plainly see, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-500 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-3 will show extra detail using its extra 16MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older E-500 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications
Olympus E-500 | Pentax K-3 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Olympus | Pentax |
Model type | Olympus E-500 | Pentax K-3 |
Otherwise known as | EVOLT E-500 | - |
Class | Advanced DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
Launched | 2005-10-21 | 2014-04-10 |
Physical type | Mid-size SLR | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | Prime III |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 8 megapixels | 24 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 3:2 |
Highest resolution | 3264 x 2448 | 6016 x 4000 |
Highest native ISO | 400 | 51200 |
Highest boosted ISO | 1600 | - |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Total focus points | 3 | 27 |
Cross type focus points | - | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax KAF2 |
Amount of lenses | 45 | 151 |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 2.5 inch | 3.2 inch |
Screen resolution | 215 thousand dots | 1,037 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Screen tech | - | TFT LCD monitor |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentaprism) | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | 95% | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.45x | 0.64x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 3.0 frames per second | 8.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 13.00 m (at ISO 100) | 13.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash settings | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye | Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | 1/180 seconds | 1/180 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) |
Highest video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video format | - | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) |
GPS | None | Optional |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 479 grams (1.06 lb) | 800 grams (1.76 lb) |
Dimensions | 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") | 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 80 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 23.7 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 13.4 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1216 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 560 pictures |
Form of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | D-LI90 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | One | Two |
Launch pricing | $600 | $639 |