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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
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
  • Introduced November 2013
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-500, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL5 was brought out 14 months earlier than the K-500 making them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-PL5 grades vs the K-500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Pentax K-500

 E-PL5 K-500 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-PL5

 K-500 E-PL5 
IntroducedNovember 2013September 2012Fresher by 14 months
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-500

 E-PL5 K-500 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL5 offers outside dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL5 and 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 differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL5 vs the K-500.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and K-500 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to see the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specifications. The graphic underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and K-500.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide the same MP but not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL5 has got the tinier sensor which will make getting bokeh tougher. The older E-PL5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography details
Pentax K-500 Street photography details
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
above average ISO range (51,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Sports photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
no phase detect auto focus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (710 CIPA)
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
Travel photography with Pentax K-500
75
boasts touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse recording
67
better than average battery power (710 shots)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no Timelapse recording
79
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average ISO range (51,600)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging details
Pentax K-500 Vlogging details
78
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no microphone port
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax K-500
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax K-500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-09-17 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 51600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 pounds) 646 gr (1.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 79
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 13.1
DXO Low light score 889 1087
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 710 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model BLS-5 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $400 $600