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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-P2
(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
  • Launched April 2010
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P1
  • Successor is Olympus E-P3
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-P2 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor size.

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The E-P2 was launched 4 years earlier than the K-500 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-P2 scores vs the K-500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Pentax K-500

 E-P2 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-P2

 K-500 E-P2 
RevealedNovember 2013April 2010More recent by 43 months
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Pentax K-500

 E-P2 K-500 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P2 features outside measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-P2 vs the K-500.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P2 and K-500 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements purely by looking at technical specs. The photograph underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P2 and K-500.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-P2 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older E-P2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography highlights
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
very good high ISO (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P2
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
72
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
good battery power (710 shots)
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-500 Travel photography advice
43
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery (300 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
67
good battery power (710 per charge)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography info
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-500 Vlogging factors
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic support
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-P2 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus PEN E-P2Pentax K-500
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Pentax K-500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-04-22 2013-11-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
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
Total lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change 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
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 lbs) 646g (1.42 lbs)
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 All around rating 56 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 13.1
DXO Low light rating 505 1087
Other
Battery life 300 photos 710 photos
Battery form Battery Pack AA
Battery ID BLS-1 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $799 $600