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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K20D

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Pentax K20D front
Portability
59
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K20D Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Released October 2005
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • New Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Introduced June 2008
  • Old Model is Pentax K10D
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K20D Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K20D, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and K20D (15MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and K20D (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The E-500 was unveiled 3 years prior to the K20D which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-500 matches up versus the K20D when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Pentax K20D

 E-500 K20D 

Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Olympus E-500

 K20D E-500 
IntroducedJune 2008October 2005More modern by 32 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k215kClearer screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K20D

 E-500 K20D 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K20D Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 enjoys outer 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 K20D has specifications of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-500 and Pentax K20D in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-500 against the K20D.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K20D size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and K20D is 70 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K20D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K20D Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by checking a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and K20D.

Clearly, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-500 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K20D will give greater detail having an extra 7 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K20D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K20D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K20D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Portrait photography camera
48
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
71
focusing manually
good resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Street photography camera
56
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than average in class (479g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Pentax K20D
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography information
Pentax K20D Travel photography information
52
lighter than average in class (479g)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (8MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
64
environment proof
good resolution (15MP)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Pentax K20D
43
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
screen is small (2.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K20D as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
9
can't record video
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax K20D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Pentax K20D
 Olympus E-500Pentax K20D
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-500 Pentax K20D
Also called EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2005-10-21 2008-06-25
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 4672 x 3104
Max native ISO 400 3200
Max enhanced ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 215 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479g (1.06 lb) 800g (1.76 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 65
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 639
Other
Battery model - D-LI50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $600 $700