Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-50

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus E-500 versus Pentax K-50, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-500 was launched 9 years prior to the K-50 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-500 grades versus the K-50 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-50. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-500 Gallery and Pentax K-50 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 features exterior measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Olympus E-500 versus Pentax K-50 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-500 vs the K-50.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and K-50 is 70 and 63 respectively.

Sometimes, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing specifications. The pic underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and K-50.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-50 will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.