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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-500

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched November 2010
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL2
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
  • Announced November 2013
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax K-500, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL1s was brought out 4 years earlier than the K-500 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-PL1s matches up against the K-500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Pentax K-500

 E-PL1s K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 K-500 E-PL1s 
AnnouncedNovember 2013November 2010More modern by 36 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax K-500

 E-PL1s K-500 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s features outside dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while 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).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL1s compared to the K-500.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and K-500 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes just by checking out a spec sheet. The pic below might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and K-500.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1s due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will provide greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography advice
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography details
Pentax K-500 Street photography details
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
above average high ISO (51,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography information
Pentax K-500 Sports photography information
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (290 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery life (710 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
slow fps (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery (290 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
67
good battery life (710 CIPA)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (710 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging features
Pentax K-500 Vlogging features
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic socket
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Pentax K-500
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPentax K-500
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Pentax K-500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-11-16 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD 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 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 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
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/180s
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 334 grams (0.74 lb) 646 grams (1.42 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 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 290 images 710 images
Type 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $599 $600