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Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-500

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M5
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M5 III
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
  • Revealed November 2013
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-M5 II and Pentax K-500, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is relatively close but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 II was released 15 months later than the K-500 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short view of how the E-M5 II grades vs the K-500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Pentax K-500

 E-M5 II K-500 
RevealedFebruary 2015November 2013Fresher by 15 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 K-500 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Pentax K-500

 E-M5 II K-500 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 II provides external dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") with a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has dimensions 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-M5 II and Pentax K-500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 II vs the K-500.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 II and K-500 is 80 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing just by viewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 II and K-500.

Clearly, both cameras provide the same resolution albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-M5 II uses the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult. The younger E-M5 II will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography details
Pentax K-500 Street photography details
82
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes focus via touch
environment proofing
good ISO range (25,600)
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
above average high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Sports photography camera
65
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
not so great battery life (310 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery pack (710 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography details
Pentax K-500 Travel photography details
74
environment proofing
includes focus via touch
decent MP (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery life (310 per charge)
67
good battery pack (710 shots)
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery life (310 per charge)
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-500 Vlogging highlights
82
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone jack
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Pentax K-500
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIPentax K-500
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Pentax K-500
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2015-02-06 2013-11-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII PRIME M
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 51600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469g (1.03 lb) 646g (1.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 13.1
DXO Low light rating 896 1087
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 710 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack AA
Battery ID BLN-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $699 $600