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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL3
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
  • Revealed November 2013
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax K-500, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was launched 3 years before the K-500 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-PL2 scores versus the K-500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Pentax K-500

 E-PL2 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-PL2

 K-500 E-PL2 
RevealedNovember 2013February 2011More recent by 34 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax K-500

 E-PL2 K-500 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 enjoys exterior dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Pentax K-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax K-500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL2 compared to the K-500.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and K-500 is 85 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to see the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reviewing technical specs. The visual here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and K-500.

As you can tell, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-500 will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos more aggressively. The older E-PL2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography features
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography features
Pentax K-500 Street photography features
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-500 Sports photography factors
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
good battery pack (710 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography info
Pentax K-500 Travel photography info
51
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
not so great battery (280 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
67
good battery pack (710 per charge)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography information
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography information
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 shots)
no Timelapse function
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging information
Pentax K-500 Vlogging information
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone port
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic jack
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax K-500
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax K-500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-02-11 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 surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
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
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology 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
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options 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 sync 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 362g (0.80 pounds) 646g (1.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 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 55 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 13.1
DXO Low light rating 573 1087
Other
Battery life 280 photos 710 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID BLS-5 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $0 $600