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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Bump to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Renewed by Olympus E-510
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-500 versus Pentax WG-2, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and WG-2 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and WG-2 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The E-500 was announced 7 years earlier than the WG-2 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-500 matches up vs the WG-2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Pentax WG-2

 E-500 WG-2 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Olympus E-500

 WG-2 E-500 
LaunchedFebruary 2012October 2005Fresher by 76 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k215kClearer screen (+245k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Pentax WG-2

 E-500 WG-2 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 has external measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-2 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-500 versus Pentax WG-2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-500 vs the WG-2.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and WG-2 is 70 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and WG-2.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-500 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax WG-2 will provide extra detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older E-500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography factors
48
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
40
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Street photography camera
56
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (479g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
54
environment proof
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Pentax WG-2
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
38
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography advice
Pentax WG-2 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than competitors in class (479g)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Landscape photography camera
43
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
does not have Timelapse recording
47
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
30
pretty wide (28mm)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Pentax WG-2
 Olympus E-500Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-500 Pentax Optio WG-2
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Launched 2005-10-21 2012-02-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 16 megapixels
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 -
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 215 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.40 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 479g (1.06 pounds) 192g (0.42 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $600 $350