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Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-1 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus SH-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Announced March 2014
  • Updated by Olympus SH-2
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
  • Announced November 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SH-1 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is relatively similar but the SH-1 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The SH-1 was introduced 5 months later than the K-500 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SH-1 matches up against the K-500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-1 over the Pentax K-500

 SH-1 K-500 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus SH-1

 K-500 SH-1 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-1 and Pentax K-500

 SH-1 K-500 
AnnouncedMarch 2014November 2013Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SH-1 features physical measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the SH-1 vs the K-500.

Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-1 and K-500 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by going over a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-1 and K-500.

Clearly, both cameras have the same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The SH-1 features the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult.

Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-1
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
37
MP count decent (16MP)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
74
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-1 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers touch focus
lighter than average (271 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
good high ISO (51,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Sports photography details
Pentax K-500 Sports photography details
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
good battery (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
better than average battery life (710 per charge)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-500 Travel photography highlights
74
good battery (380 per charge)
lighter than average (271g)
offers touch focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
67
better than average battery life (710 shots)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Landscape photography camera
49
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good battery (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,600)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-1 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-500 as a Vlogging camera
37
really wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic socket
lighter than average (271 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have mic jack
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Olympus SH-1 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-1 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus Stylus SH-1Pentax K-500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SH-1 Pentax K-500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2014-03-31 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII PRIME M
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 gr (0.60 pounds) 646 gr (1.42 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1087
Other
Battery life 380 images 710 images
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model LI-92B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $349 $600