Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1
70 Imaging
41 Features
34 Overall
38
![Olympus E-500 front Olympus E-500 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/w300/fronton/Olympus-E-500.jpg)
![Pentax Optio S1 front Pentax Optio S1 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Pentax-Optio-S1/Pentax-S1-front.jpg)
93 Imaging
37 Features
31 Overall
34
Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
- No Video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
- Revealed October 2005
- Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-500
- Replacement is Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 6400
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
- 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
- Introduced March 2011
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 Overview
Here is a complete overview of the Olympus E-500 and Pentax S1, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and S1 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
The E-500 was introduced 6 years earlier than the S1 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.
Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-500 grades vs the S1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-500 & Pentax Optio S1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-500 Gallery & Pentax S1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Pentax S1
E-500 | S1 |
---|
Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Olympus E-500
S1 | E-500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | March 2011 | ![]() | October 2005 | Fresher by 65 months |
Screen size | 2.7" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.2") |
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 215k | Crisper screen (+15k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Pentax S1
E-500 | S1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither has selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Neither has Touch friendly screen |
Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison
If you are going to carry your camera, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 has external dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Pentax S1 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).
Contrast the Olympus E-500 and Pentax S1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-500 compared to the S1.
![Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 size comparison Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-E-500-vs-Pentax-Optio-S1-size-comparison.jpg)
Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and S1 is 70 and 93 respectively.
![Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-E-500-vs-Pentax-Optio-S1-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it's hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing just by looking at specs. The photograph here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and S1.
All in all, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-500 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Pentax S1 will give you extra detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.
![Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Olympus-E-500-vs-Pentax-Optio-S1-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder
![Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Olympus-E-500-vs-Pentax-Optio-S1-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Olympus E-500 vs Pentax S1 Specifications
Olympus E-500 | Pentax Optio S1 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Pentax |
Model | Olympus E-500 | Pentax Optio S1 |
Also Known as | EVOLT E-500 | - |
Type | Advanced DSLR | Small Sensor Compact |
Revealed | 2005-10-21 | 2011-03-02 |
Physical type | Mid-size SLR | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 8 megapixel | 14 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 3264 x 2448 | 4288 x 3216 |
Highest native ISO | 400 | 6400 |
Highest boosted ISO | 1600 | - |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 80 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Number of focus points | 3 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 28-140mm (5.0x) |
Max aperture | - | f/3.5-5.5 |
Macro focus range | - | 1cm |
Number of lenses | 45 | - |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 2.5 inch | 2.7 inch |
Resolution of display | 215k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display tech | - | TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentaprism) | None |
Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.45x | - |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60s | 4s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/1500s |
Continuous shooting rate | 3.0fps | 1.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 13.00 m (at ISO 100) | 3.90 m |
Flash settings | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | 1/180s | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | - | 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) |
Highest video resolution | None | 1280x720 |
Video file format | - | Motion JPEG |
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 | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 479 gr (1.06 lb) | 157 gr (0.35 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") | 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Low light score | not tested | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 260 photos |
Battery type | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | D-LI92 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Card slots | One | One |
Retail pricing | $600 | $174 |