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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(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
Pentax K-3
(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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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Pentax K-3

 E-500 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-500

 K-3 E-500 
AnnouncedApril 2014October 2005More recent by 103 months
Display sizing3.2"2.5"Larger display (+0.7")
Display resolution1037k215kSharper display (+822k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-3

 E-500 K-3 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and K-3 is 70 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

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.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography info
48
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
low resolution (8 megapixels)
79
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Street photography camera
56
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than average (479 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-3 Sports photography factors
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (8 megapixels)
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
low battery power (560 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-3 Travel photography factors
52
lighter than average (479 grams)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
low resolution (8 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
weather sealing
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
has built in flash
low battery power (560 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography information
43
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (8 megapixels)
low max ISO (400)
no Time Lapse function
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
2 card slots
low battery power (560 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Pentax K-3
9
no video shooting
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-3
 Olympus E-500Pentax 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