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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-7 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Increase to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-500
  • New Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced October 2009
  • Successor is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-500 versus Pentax K-7, both Advanced DSLR cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and K-7 (15MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and K-7 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-500 was announced 5 years earlier than the K-7 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-500 matches up versus the K-7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Pentax K-7

 E-500 K-7 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Olympus E-500

 K-7 E-500 
AnnouncedOctober 2009October 2005More recent by 48 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k215kClearer screen (+706k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-7

 E-500 K-7 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 provides physical dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-7 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

See the Olympus E-500 versus Pentax K-7 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-500 and the K-7.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and K-7 is 70 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements purely by checking out technical specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and K-7.

As you have seen, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-500 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Pentax K-7 will provide more detail with its extra 7 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older E-500 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-7 Portrait photography information
48
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no liveview
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Street photography camera
56
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (479g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Sports photography camera
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
low fps (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
69
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography details
Pentax K-7 Travel photography details
52
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
64
weather sealing
megapixel count good (15MP)
built-in flash
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Pentax K-7
43
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
maximum ISO low (400)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging information
Pentax K-7 Vlogging information
9
no video recording
25
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
does not have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Pentax K-7
 Olympus E-500Pentax K-7
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-500 Pentax K-7
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2005-10-21 2009-10-02
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 4672 x 3104
Max native ISO 400 2000
Max enhanced ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 215 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479g (1.06 lb) 750g (1.65 lb)
Physical 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 Overall rating not tested 61
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 536
Other
Battery life - 980 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/MMC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $600 $599