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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-500 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
  • Launched October 2005
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-500, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-500 was announced 9 years earlier than the K-500 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-500 scores vs the K-500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-500 K-500 

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

 K-500 E-500 
IntroducedNovember 2013October 2005Fresher by 98 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k215kSharper screen (+706k dot)

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

 E-500 K-500 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera often, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-500 has got outside measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

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

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-500 vs the K-500.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and K-500 is 70 and 64 respectively.

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

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizing just by going through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and K-500.

As you can see, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-500 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax K-500 will provide extra detail with its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The older E-500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography advice
48
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Street photography highlights
56
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than others in class (479g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
above average high ISO (51,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery pack (710 CIPA)
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than others in class (479g)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
67
better than average battery pack (710 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have a selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
43
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
max ISO too low (400)
no Time Lapse recording
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Pentax K-500
9
no video
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus E-500Pentax K-500
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-500 Pentax K-500
Also called EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2005-10-21 2013-11-27
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - 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
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 400 51600
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 3 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 215k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
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
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max 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)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lb) 646 grams (1.42 lb)
Physical 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 Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1087
Other
Battery life - 710 shots
Style of battery - AA
Battery ID - 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 Single Single
Cost at release $600 $600