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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P2
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released November 2013
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-P1 was announced 5 years prior to the K-500 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-P1 scores vs the K-500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Pentax K-500

 E-P1 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-P1

 K-500 E-P1 
ReleasedNovember 2013July 2009Fresher by 52 months
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-500

 E-P1 K-500 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 has exterior measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-P1 against the K-500.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and K-500 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing only by viewing specs. The visual below may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P1 and K-500.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P1 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF trickier and the Pentax K-500 will result in more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The older E-P1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Pentax K-500
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great high ISO (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-500 Sports photography advice
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (710 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography info
Pentax K-500 Travel photography info
43
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery (300 shots)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
67
better than average battery pack (710 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography advice
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-500 Vlogging highlights
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no external mic support
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Olympus E-P1 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus PEN E-P1Pentax K-500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Pentax K-500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-07-29 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V 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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 355 grams (0.78 lbs) 646 grams (1.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 13.1
DXO Low light rating 536 1087
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 710 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID BLS-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $182 $600