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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Expand to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-510
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-50
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-30, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The E-500 was announced 8 years prior to the K-30 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-500 grades vs the K-30 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Pentax K-30

 E-500 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-500

 K-30 E-500 
IntroducedOctober 2012October 2005More recent by 85 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k215kCrisper display (+706k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-30

 E-500 K-30 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-500 comes with outside measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-500 versus the K-30.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and K-30 is 70 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by checking technical specs. The graphic underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and K-30.

As you have seen, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-500 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-30 will resolve more detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography features
48
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Pentax K-30
56
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (479 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
terrible battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Travel photography highlights
52
lighter than competition (479 grams)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
60
environment proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography features
43
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
no Timelapse recording
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging info
Pentax K-30 Vlogging info
9
no video
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-30
 Olympus E-500Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-500 Pentax K-30
Alternate name EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2005-10-21 2012-10-29
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 400 12800
Max boosted ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 215k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
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)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479g (1.06 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1129
Other
Battery life - 410 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 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
Pricing at launch $600 $525