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Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
75
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 III
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 410g - 122 x 84 x 50mm
  • Revealed August 2017
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M10 II
  • New Model is Olympus E-M10 IV
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-M10 III (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-M10 III (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The E-M10 III was introduced 3 years later than the K-500 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M10 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short view of how the E-M10 III matches up against the K-500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 III over the Pentax K-500

 E-M10 III K-500 
IntroducedAugust 2017November 2013Fresher by 46 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-M10 III

 K-500 E-M10 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 III and Pentax K-500

 E-M10 III K-500 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M10 III comes with physical measurements of 122mm x 84mm x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-M10 III against the K-500.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M10 III and K-500 is 80 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by checking out specifications. The graphic below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M10 III and K-500.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit different sensor sizing. The E-M10 III offers the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The younger E-M10 III provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
73
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M10 III
Street photography with Pentax K-500
77
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
heavier than competition (410 grams)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
very good high ISO (51,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Sports photography highlights
69
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
good battery life (710 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Travel photography factors
Pentax K-500 Travel photography factors
67
comes with touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
heavier than competition (410g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
good battery life (710 per charge)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography highlights
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
32
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than competition (410 grams)
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic port
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M10 III vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 III and Pentax K-500
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIPentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Pentax K-500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2017-08-31 2013-11-27
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 51600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 121 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.80 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, redeye, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill-in, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 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)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 410 gr (0.90 lb) 646 gr (1.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 84 x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 330 shots 710 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model BLS-50 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $650 $600