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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2014
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL6
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL8
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
  • Released November 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Here, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax K-500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL7 was launched 10 months later than the K-500 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL7 matches up versus the K-500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Pentax K-500

 E-PL7 K-500 
ReleasedSeptember 2014November 2013Fresher by 10 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k921kSharper screen (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-PL7

 K-500 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax K-500

 E-PL7 K-500 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL7 features physical measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax K-500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL7 versus the K-500.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL7 and K-500 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to see the gap between sensor sizing only by checking technical specs. The photograph underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL7 and K-500.

As you have seen, each of the cameras come with the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL7 has got the tinier sensor which will make achieving bokeh trickier. The newer E-PL7 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Portrait photography camera
72
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography details
Pentax K-500 Street photography details
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great ISO range (51,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography details
Pentax K-500 Sports photography details
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery (710 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography information
Pentax K-500 Travel photography information
85
offers focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
67
great battery (710 per charge)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography advice
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-500 Vlogging advice
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no external mic support
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL7 Pentax K-500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2014-09-01 2013-11-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 81 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - 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
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357g (0.79 lb) 646g (1.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" 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 22.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 13.1
DXO Low light score 873 1087
Other
Battery life 350 images 710 images
Battery style Battery Pack AA
Battery model BLS-50 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $499 $600