Olympus E-M1X vs Pentax K-500

Here is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-M1X and Pentax K-500, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the E-M1X (20MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-M1X (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-M1X was launched 5 years later than the K-500 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1X being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-M1X matches up versus the K-500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M1X & Pentax K-500. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-M1X Gallery & Pentax K-500 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry your camera often, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1X features physical measurements of 144mm x 147mm x 75mm (5.7" x 5.8" x 3.0") having a weight of 997 grams (2.20 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1X and Pentax K-500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M1X versus the K-500.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1X and K-500 is 54 and 64 respectively.

Sometimes, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizing merely by seeing specs. The photograph below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1X and K-500.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1X due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus E-M1X will show more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively. The younger E-M1X provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.