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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Successor is Olympus E-M5 II
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-M5 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-500, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is pretty similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was launched 19 months before the K-500 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the E-M5 scores vs the K-500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 E-M5 K-500 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 K-500 E-M5 
IntroducedNovember 2013April 2012Newer by 19 months
Screen resolution921k610kCrisper screen (+311k dot)

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

 E-M5 K-500 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 has got outside measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-M5 versus the K-500.

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and K-500 is 81 and 64 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions only by reviewing specs. The pic underneath might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and K-500.

All in all, both cameras come with the identical MP albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 offers the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF harder. The more aged E-M5 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
71
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography information
Pentax K-500 Street photography information
82
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes focus by touch
environment proofing
above average ISO range (25,600)
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
above average ISO range (51,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography details
Pentax K-500 Sports photography details
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
has no phase detect auto focus
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
great battery (710 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography info
Pentax K-500 Travel photography info
66
environment proofing
includes focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
67
great battery (710 CIPA)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography info
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
no Timelapse mode
79
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW formats
great battery (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Pentax K-500
34
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no microphone socket
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Pentax K-500
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-04-30 2013-11-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 51600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 9.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lb) 646 gr (1.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 79
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.1
DXO Low light rating 826 1087
Other
Battery life 360 shots 710 shots
Battery type Battery Pack AA
Battery ID BLN-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $799 $600