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Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K-500

Portability
68
Imaging
59
Features
93
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M1 III
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
  • Introduced November 2013
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Olympus E-M1 II versus Pentax K-500, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 II was announced 2 years after the K-500 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-M1 II grades vs the K-500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Pentax K-500

 E-M1 II K-500 
IntroducedSeptember 2016November 2013Newer by 35 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k921kCrisper display (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-M1 II

 K-500 E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Pentax K-500

 E-M1 II K-500 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 II has got outside measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") along with a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 II versus Pentax K-500 in our completely new 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 select at that moment. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-M1 II against the K-500.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 II and K-500 is 68 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing specs. The image underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 II and K-500.

All in all, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 II using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Olympus E-M1 II will offer you more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 II should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography info
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography info
75
focusing manually
MP count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
74
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Street photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Street photography highlights
78
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch focus
environment sealing
lighter than competition (574 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great high ISO (51,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1 II
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
74
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
high max frames per second (60.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (350 shots)
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery life (710 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Travel photography info
Pentax K-500 Travel photography info
72
lighter than competition (574g)
environment sealing
boasts touch focus
MP count good (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery pack (350 shots)
67
good battery life (710 per charge)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography highlights
76
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
2 card slots
not so great battery pack (350 CIPA)
79
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (710 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1 II
Vlogging with Pentax K-500
79
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic support
lighter than competition (574 grams)
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Pentax K-500
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIPentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Pentax K-500
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2016-09-19 2013-11-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 51600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 121 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/6000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 60.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.10 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 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 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MOV, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 574g (1.27 lb) 646g (1.42 lb)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 80 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.8 13.1
DXO Low light rating 1312 1087
Other
Battery life 350 shots 710 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID BLH-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Dual 1
Cost at release $1,700 $600