Clicky

Olympus PEN-F vs Samsung NX500

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72

Olympus PEN-F vs Samsung NX500 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Announced January 2016
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Superseded the Samsung NX300
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Olympus PEN-F vs Samsung NX500 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus PEN-F and Samsung NX500, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Samsung. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and NX500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

The PEN-F was manufactured 12 months after the NX500 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise overview of how the PEN-F grades against the NX500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Samsung NX500

 PEN-F NX500 
ReleasedJanuary 2016February 2015Newer by 12 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k1036kCrisper screen (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Olympus PEN-F

 NX500 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Samsung NX500

 PEN-F NX500 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus PEN-F vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F offers external measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX500 has dimensions of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

See the Olympus PEN-F and Samsung NX500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the PEN-F and the NX500.

Olympus PEN-F vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and NX500 is 84 and 87 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading through a spec sheet. The picture here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and NX500.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The PEN-F due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Samsung NX500 will give greater detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The fresher PEN-F is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography information
Samsung NX500 Portrait photography information
75
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
80
manual focus
resolution is fantastic (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography info
Samsung NX500 Street photography info
84
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
81
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography info
Samsung NX500 Sports photography info
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
bad battery life (330 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
75
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
resolution is fantastic (28MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking focus
comes with phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography features
Samsung NX500 Travel photography features
75
offers touch focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
selfie friendly display
bad battery life (330 CIPA)
78
supports bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
resolution is fantastic (28MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography info
Samsung NX500 Landscape photography info
76
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
bad battery life (330 shots)
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a good size (3")
resolution is fantastic (28MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Vlogging camera
Samsung NX500 as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
missing mic port
34
touchscreen functionality
features face detect focusing
high quality video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone support
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Olympus PEN-F vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Samsung NX500
 Olympus PEN-FSamsung NX500
General Information
Brand Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN-F Samsung NX500
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2016-01-27 2015-02-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII DRIMe 5
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 28 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 6480 x 4320
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 209
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Available lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 1,036k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Max video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.265
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427g (0.94 lbs) 287g (0.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 74 87
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 13.9
DXO Low light score 894 1379
Other
Battery life 330 photos 370 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $1,000 $800