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Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25
Olympus FE-45 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus FE-45
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-108mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 62 x 23mm
  • Announced January 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 FE-45 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax K-500, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the FE-45 (10MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the FE-45 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The FE-45 was launched 5 years earlier than the K-500 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-45 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summation of how the FE-45 scores versus the K-500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-45 over the Pentax K-500

 FE-45 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus FE-45

 K-500 FE-45 
LaunchedNovember 2013January 2009Newer by 59 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-45 and Pentax K-500

 FE-45 K-500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus FE-45 comes with outside measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Compare the Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the FE-45 versus the K-500.

Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the FE-45 and K-500 is 95 and 64 respectively.

Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions merely by going through a spec sheet. The image below will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-45 and K-500.

Clearly, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FE-45 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Pentax K-500 will provide greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged FE-45 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus FE-45
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
19
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
74
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-45 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
56
image stabilization (Digital)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good high ISO (51,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus FE-45
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
26
image stabilization (Digital)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking focus
better than average battery life (710 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus FE-45
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
51
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
low resolution (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
67
better than average battery life (710 CIPA)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography information
27
image stabilization (Digital)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.5")
manual exposure not possible
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-500 Vlogging factors
25
image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external mic port
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus FE-45 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-45 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus FE-45Pentax K-500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus FE-45 Pentax K-500
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-01-07 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 51600
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 36-108mm (3.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed - 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 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 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 142g (0.31 lbs) 646g (1.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 1087
Other
Battery life - 710 photos
Type of battery - AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $130 $600