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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-50

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-50 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Boost to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Replaced the Pentax K-30
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-50 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Pentax K-50

 E-500 K-50 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus E-500

 K-50 E-500 
IntroducedNovember 2013October 2005Newer by 98 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k215kSharper display (+706k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-50

 E-500 K-50 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

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

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography features
48
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
low MP (8MP)
74
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-50 as a Street photography camera
56
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average (479g)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
very good high ISO (51,600)
no moving screen
heavier than competitors in class (650 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Pentax K-50
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-50 Travel photography highlights
52
lighter than average (479g)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low MP (8MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
56
weather sealing
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery (410 shots)
heavier than competitors in class (650g)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography details
43
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
lack of Timelapse recording
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,600)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
not so great battery (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Pentax K-50
9
no video shooting
28
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of mic port
heavier than competitors in class (650 grams)
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-50
 Olympus E-500Pentax K-50
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-500 Pentax K-50
Also called EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2005-10-21 2013-11-27
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 400 51600
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 215 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
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 sync 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479 gr (1.06 pounds) 650 gr (1.43 pounds)
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 1120
Other
Battery life - 410 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $600 $610