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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-500

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

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

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Released October 2019
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Refreshed by OM System OM-5
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax K-500, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 III was announced 5 years later than the K-500 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-M5 III grades vs the K-500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-M5 III K-500 
RevealedOctober 2019November 2013Fresher by 72 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k921kClearer display (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 K-500 E-M5 III 

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

 E-M5 III K-500 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing

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

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera often, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 III has physical measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") having a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax K-500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-M5 III against the K-500.

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

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and K-500 is 80 and 64 respectively.

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

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

Quite often, it is very hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing only by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 III and K-500.

Clearly, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 III using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus E-M5 III will result in more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images far more aggressively. The fresher E-M5 III will have a benefit in sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
77
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography factors
Pentax K-500 Street photography factors
83
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes touch focus
environment proofing
great high ISO (25,600)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
great ISO range (51,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography info
Pentax K-500 Sports photography info
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (30.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (310 CIPA)
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (710 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
77
environment proofing
has bluetooth
includes touch focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery pack (310 per charge)
67
better than average battery life (710 shots)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
terrible battery pack (310 per charge)
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
84
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone support
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Pentax K-500
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Pentax K-500
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2019-10-17 2013-11-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII PRIME M
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 51600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 121 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type 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 diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
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 0.68x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 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 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 414 gr (0.91 pounds) 646 gr (1.42 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 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 310 pictures 710 pictures
Battery style 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 (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $1,199 $600