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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Boost to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Announced October 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Later Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2014
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-500 and Pentax Q-S1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and Q-S1 (12MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and Q-S1 (1/1.7") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was manufactured 9 years earlier than the Q-S1 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-500 matches up versus the Q-S1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Pentax Q-S1

 E-500 Q-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus E-500

 Q-S1 E-500 
RevealedAugust 2014October 2005More modern by 106 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k215kCrisper screen (+245k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Pentax Q-S1

 E-500 Q-S1 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera, you'll need to consider 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") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Pentax Q-S1 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-500 and Pentax Q-S1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-500 against the Q-S1.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and Q-S1 is 70 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes merely by reading a spec sheet. The picture here will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and Q-S1.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-500 due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Pentax Q-S1 will offer you greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Portrait photography camera
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
46
has manual focus
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography information
Pentax Q-S1 Street photography information
56
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competitors (479g)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (203 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Sports photography camera
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
37
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking autofocus
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
terrible battery (250 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competitors (479 grams)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (8MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
lighter than competition (203 grams)
has built in flash
terrible battery (250 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography highlights
43
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
no Time Lapse mode
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
terrible battery (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging info
Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging info
9
can't record video
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (203g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus E-500Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-500 Pentax Q-S1
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2005-10-21 2014-08-04
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Q Engine
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 400 12800
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Number of lenses 45 8
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 215k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479 grams (1.06 pounds) 203 grams (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 250 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $600 $250