Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-500
69 Imaging
37 Features
29 Overall
33
64 Imaging
57 Features
70 Overall
62
Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 6400
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
- 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
- Released August 2012
- Earlier Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
- Updated by Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 51600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
- Revealed November 2013
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Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax K-500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the K-500 (16MP) is pretty close but the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and K-500 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe SP-820UZ was brought out 15 months earlier than the K-500 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-500 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SP-820UZ grades against the K-500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
Photography Glossary Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-500 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ & Pentax K-500. The entire galleries are available at Olympus SP-820UZ Gallery & Pentax K-500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Pentax K-500
| SP-820UZ | K-500 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus SP-820UZ
| K-500 | SP-820UZ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | November 2013 | August 2012 | More recent by 15 months | |
| Manual focus | Very exact focusing | |||
| Screen resolution | 921k | 460k | Clearer screen (+461k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax K-500
| SP-820UZ | K-500 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
| Screen size | 3" | 3" | Same screen measurements | |
| Selfie screen | Neither includes selfie screen | |||
| Touch friendly screen | Neither includes Touch friendly screen |
Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison
In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SP-820UZ features physical measurements of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) while the Pentax K-500 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).
See the Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SP-820UZ against the K-500.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-820UZ and K-500 is 69 and 64 respectively.
Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it can be hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements just by researching a spec sheet. The visual here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-820UZ and K-500.
As you can see, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SP-820UZ because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-500 will render extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older SP-820UZ will be behind in sensor technology.
Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-500 Specifications
| Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ | Pentax K-500 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand Name | Olympus | Pentax |
| Model type | Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ | Pentax K-500 |
| Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Entry-Level DSLR |
| Released | 2012-08-21 | 2013-11-27 |
| Body design | Compact | Compact SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Chip | - | PRIME M |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
| Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.7 x 15.7mm |
| Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 372.1mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 14 megapixels | 16 megapixels |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
| Max resolution | 4288 x 3216 | 4928 x 3264 |
| Max native ISO | 6400 | 51600 |
| Min native ISO | 80 | 100 |
| RAW photos | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Touch focus | ||
| AF continuous | ||
| AF single | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| Multi area AF | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detect AF | ||
| Contract detect AF | ||
| Phase detect AF | ||
| Total focus points | - | 11 |
| Cross type focus points | - | 9 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | fixed lens | Pentax KAF2 |
| Lens zoom range | 22-896mm (40.7x) | - |
| Max aperture | f/3.4-5.7 | - |
| Macro focusing range | 1cm | - |
| Amount of lenses | - | 151 |
| Crop factor | 5.8 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Range of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Display size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
| Resolution of display | 460k dot | 921k dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch functionality | ||
| Display tech | TFT Color LCD | TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | None | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
| Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.61x |
| Features | ||
| Min shutter speed | 4s | 30s |
| Max shutter speed | 1/2000s | 1/6000s |
| Continuous shutter speed | 2.0fps | 6.0fps |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
| Change WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | 15.00 m | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
| Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless |
| External flash | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Max flash sync | - | 1/180s |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 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 data format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Microphone input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | None |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | Optional |
| Physical | ||
| Environment seal | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 485 grams (1.07 lb) | 646 grams (1.42 lb) |
| Physical dimensions | 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") | 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall rating | not tested | 79 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 23.7 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 13.1 |
| DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1087 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | - | 710 photos |
| Type of battery | - | AA |
| Battery ID | - | 4 x AA |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Storage slots | Single | Single |
| Price at release | $299 | $600 |