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Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX500

Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61
Pentax K-01 front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX500 Key Specs

Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Introduced May 2012
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Samsung NX300
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX500 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Pentax K-01 versus Samsung NX500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Pentax and Samsung. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the K-01 (16MP) and NX500 (28MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The K-01 was revealed 3 years before the NX500 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the K-01 scores against the NX500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Samsung NX500

 K-01 NX500 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Pentax K-01

 NX500 K-01 
IntroducedFebruary 2015May 2012More recent by 32 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1036k921kSharper display (+115k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax K-01 and Samsung NX500

 K-01 NX500 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax K-01 provides exterior dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") and a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs) and the Samsung NX500 has sizing of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check the Pentax K-01 versus Samsung NX500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the K-01 and the NX500.

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-01 and NX500 is 76 and 87 respectively.

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing technical specs. The graphic below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-01 and NX500.

As you can tell, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should expect to see the Samsung NX500 to produce greater detail because of its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics more aggressively. The older K-01 will be behind in sensor technology.

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-01 Portrait photography factors
Samsung NX500 Portrait photography factors
74
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
80
manual focus
amazing megapixels (28MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-01 Street photography factors
Samsung NX500 Street photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
heavier than average in class (561 grams)
81
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
provides focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-01
Sports photography with Samsung NX500
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
better than average battery (540 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
75
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
amazing megapixels (28MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking focus
comes with phase detect AF
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-01 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Travel photography camera
65
better than average battery (540 CIPA)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
heavier than average in class (561g)
display isn't selfie friendly
78
connects via bluetooth
provides focus by touch
amazing megapixels (28 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-01 Landscape photography details
Samsung NX500 Landscape photography details
80
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (540 per charge)
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a good size (3")
amazing megapixels (28MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-01
Vlogging with Samsung NX500
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic jack
display isn't selfie friendly
heavier than average in class (561g)
34
touchscreen capability
features face detect focusing
video res high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no microphone socket
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Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-01 and Samsung NX500
 Pentax K-01Samsung NX500
General Information
Make Pentax Samsung
Model type Pentax K-01 Samsung NX500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-05-30 2015-02-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - DRIMe 5
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 28MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4928 x 3264 6480 x 4320
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Max enhanced ISO 25600 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 81 209
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Samsung NX
Total lenses 151 32
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 1,036 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps) 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 data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.265
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 561g (1.24 lb) 287g (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 79 87
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 24.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.9 13.9
DXO Low light rating 1135 1379
Other
Battery life 540 shots 370 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI90 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $899 $800