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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus SH-2
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
  • Released November 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is very well matched but the SH-3 (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The SH-3 was revealed 2 years later than the K-500 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a short summation of how the SH-3 matches up vs the K-500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Pentax K-500

 SH-3 K-500 
ReleasedFebruary 2016November 2013More recent by 27 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus SH-3

 K-500 SH-3 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-500

 SH-3 K-500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-3 comes with external dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the SH-3 and the K-500.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-3 and K-500 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements simply by checking specs. The visual underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-3 and K-500.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature the identical resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The SH-3 contains the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging. The more recent SH-3 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-500 Portrait photography advice
44
resolution is good (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
74
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography features
Pentax K-500 Street photography features
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
boasts focus via touch
lighter than competitors in class (271 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
very good ISO range (51,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-3
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
good battery pack (710 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography info
Pentax K-500 Travel photography info
74
better than average battery life (380 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (271g)
boasts focus via touch
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
67
good battery pack (710 per charge)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-3
Landscape photography with Pentax K-500
55
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (51,600)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (710 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging details
Pentax K-500 Vlogging details
35
relatively wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (271g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly display
missing mic port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of mic port
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Pentax K-500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Pentax K-500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2016-02-08 2013-11-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 28.1mm² 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 Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 51600
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 11.5fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 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 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lbs) 646 grams (1.42 lbs)
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 photos 710 photos
Battery form 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 Single Single
Launch pricing $579 $600