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Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
71
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Olympus E-600 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-600
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 515g - 130 x 94 x 60mm
  • Launched August 2009
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
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Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-600 and Pentax K-500, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-600 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-600 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-600 was introduced 5 years prior to the K-500 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-600 matches up against the K-500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-600 over the Pentax K-500

 E-600 K-500 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-600

 K-500 E-600 
LaunchedNovember 2013August 2009More modern by 51 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-600 and Pentax K-500

 E-600 K-500 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-600 enjoys physical dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") with a weight of 515 grams (1.14 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-600 and Pentax K-500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-600 versus the K-500.

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-600 and K-500 is 71 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizes purely by seeing a spec sheet. The image underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-600 and K-500.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-600 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will produce greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-600 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-600 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography info
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-600
Street photography with Pentax K-500
76
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
above average high ISO (51,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-600 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Sports photography highlights
48
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery (500 per charge)
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
good battery (710 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Travel photography camera
53
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery (500 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
67
good battery (710 shots)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-600 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography highlights
53
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery (500 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
saves RAW files
good battery (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-600 Vlogging features
Pentax K-500 Vlogging features
18
no video recording
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-600 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-600 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus E-600Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-600 Pentax K-500
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2009-08-30 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 7 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Fill-in, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video 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 Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 515g (1.14 lb) 646g (1.42 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 13.1
DXO Low light score 541 1087
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 710 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack AA
Battery model BLS-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $0 $600