Clicky

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Bump to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Announced October 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-510
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-5
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

The following is a extended review of the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-5 IIs, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizes.

Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

The E-500 was revealed 8 years earlier than the K-5 IIs which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-500 matches up vs the K-5 IIs with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 E-500 K-5 IIs 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Olympus E-500

 K-5 IIs E-500 
LaunchedJune 2013October 2005Newer by 92 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k215kClearer screen (+706k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 E-500 K-5 IIs 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 has got external dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-5 IIs in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-500 versus the K-5 IIs.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and K-5 IIs is 70 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to envision the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading specs. The picture underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and K-5 IIs.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-5 IIs will deliver extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography factors
49
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low resolution (8MP)
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Street photography camera
57
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others (479 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
screen is fixed
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography factors
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (8MP)
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography info
52
lighter than others (479g)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
low resolution (8MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
65
environment proofing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography info
43
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
does not have Timelapse function
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
exports RAW files
environment proofing
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging features
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging features
9
no video recording
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
display isn't selfie friendly
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus E-500Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-500 Pentax K-5 IIs
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2005-10-21 2013-06-04
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime II
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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 400 12800
Highest boosted ISO 1600 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 215 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - Motion JPEG
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479g (1.06 lb) 760g (1.68 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1208
Other
Battery life - 980 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $600 $749